This plan is a supplement to national decisions and international obligations and gives guidelines on cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries with the aim of maximizing any action taken based on national plans and decisions.

Background

Reference is made to the Tallinn Declaration on Increased Food Safety in the Nordic-Baltic Region, agreed on 7 November 2003.

Looking at the geography, communication, trade etc., the Baltic and Nordic countries comprise a region where coordinated efforts for control of threat of disease, added to what is done nationally, may reduce negative consequences for individual countries or the whole region. By strengthening cooperation within Nordic/Baltic veterinary contingency planning, the Nordic/Baltic ministers responsible for animal health and zoonoses wish to ensure the Nordic/Baltic region can retain its status in relation to serious contagious animal diseases and zoonoses despite extended trade and borders which are more open.

Aim

The aim of this plan is to maximize the potential of Nordic/Baltic cooperation and work together to prevent and combat serious contagious animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease, avian influenza, classical swine fever, Newcastle disease, and any other animal diseases, including serious zoonoses.

Scope

First and foremost this plan encompasses strategies and action to do with communication, scientific and professional updates and the mutual exchange of experiences. This plan does not encompass any practical action taken within an individual country as such is governed by the country’s own decisions which, in the main, are based on EU legislation.

Strategies

Nordic/Baltic cooperation shall as far as is practically and financially possible:

• Establish secure and recognized communication channels between countries
• share knowledge and exchange experiences outside contingency situations
• work so that action taken in the Nordic and Baltic Countries according to the conditions is as uniform, harmonious and effective as possible
• communicate the state of affairs, action taken and risks to the public in the most uniform way in the individual countries

Action

Notification

In addition to any obligations related to notification pursuant to international agreements (EU, OIE), the authority concerned shall, as soon as possible, notify the corresponding authority in the other Nordic and Baltic countries should an exotic disease occur. Any information received shall be treated confidentially until such has been made public in the country which has sent out notification.

The authority in a country has a particular duty to notify other Nordic and Baltic countries if action is taken which is not based on EU rules/EEA decisions.

As and when needed, telephone conferences shall be conducted between the staff of the authorities affected so that information may be mutually exchanged so as to ensure appropriate, harmonized action is taken.

Expert assistance

If a country’s authority requires to evaluate scientific questions about risk assessments and the handling thereof (epidemiology, sanitary measures, or similar), the corresponding authority in another country may be asked to provide assistance.

The relevant scientific experts within laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, risk communication or similar in a country made be placed at the disposal of another Nordic and/or Baltic country after discussions with the HQ/the Ministry.

Training and education

Individual Nordic and/or Baltic countries are obliged to invite the relevant staff from other Nordic and Baltic countries to courses or other types of training meant to help prevent or combat exotic diseases.

Individual Nordic and Baltic countries are obliged to help plan and implement common Nordic/Baltic contingency exercises regularly.

Exchanging experiences

A country which had acquired practical experience in handling the diseases mentioned at the beginning of this document shall help ensure this information is shared with the other Nordic and Baltic countries.

Annexes

Annex I lists the authority responsible with addresses (including website), telephone number and the person responsible in the eight Nordic and Baltic countries.

Annex II lists the ministry and department responsible with addresses (including website) telephone number and in addition the name of the minister, senior civil servant and any other relevant civil servant at the ministry.

Annexes