Brussels, 15/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 March during a plenary session in Strasbourg, many MEPs denounced the trade restrictions imposed by ten non-EU countries against beef from the EU, in response to Europe's declaration of the presence of the Schmallenberg virus. MEPs called on the European Commission to take action to combat these embargoes, particularly the one in Russia, and speed up the procedures for finding an antidote to this disease. The Commission provided reassurances and said that the risk to human health is considered to be low. The British minister for agriculture recently recommended farmers and vets to comply with the strictest possible health safety standards when they come into contact with cattle. Pregnant women are also advised to avoid any proximity to animals. This dossier will be discussed on Tuesday 20 March in Brussels, by European agriculture ministers.
The Schmallenberg virus is responsible for creating a number of malformations and a high rate of stillbirths in ovine, caprine and bovine animals and is currently spreading throughout the EU - more than 1,200 farms have been affected in eight countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Spain.
Patrick Le Hyaric, who drafted the oral question, said that “the scale of this disease will only be known in a few weeks' time, once the farrowing takes place for the bovines and ovines.” He called on the Commission to “prevent the embargo on our bovine meats” and provide the resources for speeding up the screening of this disease in order to eradicate it. He called for a European fund for compensating breeders affected by the disease and stressed that the disease could be the result of overconcentration, which is still being encouraged in farming systems.
James Nicholson (ECR, United Kingdom) said that the animals had been contaminated last autumn and pointed out that they needed to respond in an appropriate way because the situation is serious. He was extremely relieved that this virus is apparently not dangerous to human health but criticised the “protectionists” in non-EU countries, which had taken measures to ban animals and meat products from the EU. He underlined the fact that the transmission of the virus is through flies and advocated a co-ordinated approach from member states (data sharing) and efforts to reassure consumers and trade partners. He said that they should attempt to develop a vaccine to combat the disease.
Albert Dess (EPP, Germany) said that the only protection would be vaccination. He called on the Commission “to do everything possible to promote the development of vaccine”. He said that the Commission had to promote data gathering on this question and ensure that Russian trade measures were lifted.
Britta Reimers (ALDE, Germany) highlighted the “enormous losses” suffered by rearers and asked: “When will the Commission finally adopt a standard strategy for new diseases?” She believes that this will help them to know when measures are being taken against these diseases and what measures should be adopted to help farmers. She stressed that they do not have much time.
Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Connie Hedegaard assured Reimers that “we already have good mechanisms to develop an appropriate response to new diseases”. These mechanisms will help identify viruses and prepare co-ordinated action. As demonstrated by the response to the H1N1 virus, “the EU's level of preparation is satisfactory”. The commissioner said that the Commission would take appropriate measures to perfect their response capacity and added that “the most effective control measure remains monitoring”. Exporting sick animals is not authorised in the EU, and any veterinary measure that the EU takes has to be proportionate and take into account all information available. Information suggests that the impact of this virus on animal health and production is limited and that there is no proof that indicates that the disease can be transmitted to human beings. The Commission has called on EFSA to gather data from member states to assess the impact of this virus on animal health and meat production. The Commission will fund scientific studies to improve knowledge about this virus and subsequently develop an appropriate veterinary response in the future. As is the case for other viral diseases, there is no specific treatment for curing animals. Hedegaard explained that they were unable to say when an efficient vaccine would be available. In December, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control stated that in the context of risks to public health, the transmission of this virus to human beings is unlikely. The Commission will, nevertheless, request the centre to carry out a risk analysis. On the question of embargoes, restriction measures on exports of ruminants or beef product derivatives, the commissioner hammered home the fact that she thought these measures disproportionate, “on the basis of available scientific elements”. The Commission is subsequently in contact with these non-EU countries in an effort to prevent the erection of trade barriers and is attempting to mitigate their effects, concluded Connie Hedegaard. (LC/transl.fl)