The first amendment to the BHV-1 Regulation in late 2001 marked the first step towards sanitation. This also proved necessary in view of the environment in the European Community because the amending regulation will, in conjunction with the compulsory notification of BHV-1, allow operators to achieve medium-term trade advantages via the so-called Article 9 status laid down in Directive 64/432/EEC. Yet, some of the provisions of the BHV-1 Regulation are still questionable under animal disease legislation so that this first step must surely be followed up by a second step. Article 2 of the Regulation dated 12 December 2002 merely amended the vaccination intervals, the number of vaccinations required for basic immunization as well as the facts constituting an administrative offense.