Brussels, 02/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Agreement was reached among the European institutions at a trialogue meeting on 1 June on tougher measures for the prevention and treatment of animal diseases, such as bird flu and African swine fever.
“This legislation is an important toolbox for the future”, said Parliament rapporteur on the issue, Marit Paulsen (ALDE, Sweden).
The new rules will lay greater emphasis on prevention. All farmers and other animal owners and traders will be required to apply the principles of good husbandry and of prudent, responsible use of veterinary medicines. “That should make it more difficult in future to use antibiotics as an umbrella providing protection for poor husbandry practices”, Paulsen said (our translation).
The Parliament, Commission and Council published a joint statement calling on EU member states to collect relevant, comparable and sufficiently detailed data on the use of antibiotic medicines on animals and to send these data to the Commission.
To address emerging diseases that could have a very significant impact on public health, agricultural production or animal welfare and health, the text gives the Commission the power swiftly to implement emergency measures.
To ensure that decisions on disease prevention and monitoring are effective, MEPs included provisions which: - involve both the Parliament and the Council in establishing and updating a list of potentially dangerous diseases, such as African swine fever, bird flu and foot and mouth disease, in consultation with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) experts; - involve stakeholders, such as farmers' organisations, veterinary associations and animal protection movements in drafting and updating emergency plans. All disease control measures must take account of animal welfare and avoid any pain, distress or suffering to the animals, including stray animals, the agreement states.
The text now has to be approved by the Parliament's agriculture committee, probably on 17 June, then be examined by the Council. Once the Council agrees its position on the outcome of negotiations, the draft legislation has to be passed in its entirety by Parliament at second reading. (Lionel Changeur)