Brussels, 20/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 June, the Commission decided to refer Sweden to the EU Court of Justice over its failure to correctly implement Directive 64/432/EEC by continuing the practice of testing bovine animals imported from other member states for paratuberculosis.
The harmonised animal health conditions for trade in bovine animals laid down in Directive 64/432/EEC do not provide any health requirements for paratuberculosis. Furthermore, mandatory post-arrival testing discourages Swedish farmers from introducing bovine animals from other EU member states, which has the equivalent effect of quantitative restrictions. The practice cannot therefore be justified under Article 36 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which regulates restrictions and prohibitions on imports. Paratuberculosis is not one of the animal diseases for which the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has issued standards on international trade. Similarly, in the EU, no additional health guarantees are established in relation to this disease. This is also because of the lack of accurate diagnostic testing. Despite reiterated requests by the Commission, Sweden has still not fully complied with EU legislation. (LC/transl.jl)