With the purpose of development and cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine and with a special stress on preventive activities in controlling infectious diseases and in preventing their spread, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria (hereinafter: Contracting Parties) agree on the following:
Article 1
For the purpose of preventing the spread of infectious diseases and of controlling the trade in foodstuffs of animal origin in the territories of Slovenia and Bulgaria, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate in monitoring the export, import, and transit of animals, foodstuffs and material of animal origin.
Article 2
The competent veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties shall prepare all the necessary agreements on export, import and transit conditions for animals, foodstuffs and material of animal origin.
Article 3
1. The competent veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties shall agree upon the following:
– to provide reciprocal and immediate information on each and every outbreak of any disease registered under list A of Code of Diseases of the International Organisation for Epizootics and on diseases which have appeared in the territory of the Contracting Parties for the first time or again after several years of absence;
– information on the outbreak of the above-mentioned diseases shall contain data on the species and the number of infected animals, the geographical location of the outbreak, the diagnostic method used, and the eradication measures undertaken. In cases of foot and mouth disease, the type of the isolated virus shall be reported in addition to all other information;
– in case of an outbreak of an infectious disease the Contracting Parties shall regularly inform each other on the movement thereof and on the eradication measures undertaken until the disease is eradicated or brought under control;
– the Contracting Parties shall, on the request of one Contracting Party, also inform each other of diseases under list B of Code of Diseases of the International Organisation for Epizootics.
2. Should any of the diseases mentioned in Article 3, paragraph 1, appear in the territory of one Contracting Party, the two Contracting Parties shall provide mutual help in diagnosing such a disease, and on request provide assistance in isolating the cause.
3. The competent veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties shall regularly exchange monthly data on infectious animal diseases that occur in the territory of the two states.
4. The competent veterinary authorities shall provide reciprocal information on conditions for the import of animals, foodstuffs and material of animal origin and waste of animal origin, and on eventual changes and additions. Veterinary certificates are issued in the languages of the Contracting Parties and also in English.
Article 4
The competent veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties shall provide reciprocal information on new achievements and on the use of veterinary knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine with the aim of preventing and controlling infectious, parasitic and other animal diseases.
Article 5
The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in research work in the field of veterinary medicine by exchanging knowledge and experience at undergraduate and post-graduate levels through:
– the exchange of experts and scientific personnel,
– cooperation among veterinary research institutions and diagnostic laboratories,
– the exchange of publications and magazines in the field of veterinary medicine,
– reciprocal information on expert meetings and exchange of veterinary legislation.
Article 6
The veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties shall monitor the observance of the provisions of this agreement alternately.
Article 7
The exchange of data, expert magazines and veterinary publications shall be free of charge.
Article 8
If the need arises, representatives of the veterinary authorities of the two Contracting Parties shall meet directly and exchange the necessary information. In cases of solving complex expert issues they can organize individual meetings and consultations. Controversial questions regarding the implementation of this agreement shall be resolved through talks between the competent veterinary authorities of the Contracting Parties which can adopt special measures.
Article 9
The Veterinary and Sanitary Convention between the Federal Executive Council of the Assembly of the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, signed in Skopje on 21 March 1986, shall cease to be valid in relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Bulgaria on the date this agreement enters into force.
Article 10
This agreement is subject to approval in accordance with the national legislation of the Contracting Parties and shall enter into force on the 30th day from the date of exchange of diplomatic notes on its approval.
This agreement shall be concluded for five years and is automatically prolonged for the following five-year periods, unless one of the Contracting Parties, within six months prior to the expiry of this period, notifies in writing the other Contracting Party of its intention to terminate it.
Done at Sofia on 30 June 1998 in two original copies in the Slovene, Bulgarian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.
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