As part of the response to the largest outbreak of the avian flu observed in the EU so far, the European Commission announced, on Monday 20 February, that it will harmonise the rules on vaccination of animals against the most serious animal diseases.
In the context of avian flu, specific rules for vaccination will be introduced when used as a measure to control or prevent the disease. This will allow safe movement of animals and products from establishments and zones where vaccination has taken place.
The EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, said the rules “will allow for a harmonisation of the use of vaccination to prevent or control the spread of the disease and set conditions to enable movement of vaccinated animals and their products”.
These new rules are in line with the international standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health and take into account new scientific knowledge available and experience gained in the application of existing EU rules.
The new rules are published in the Official Journal and will come into force on 12 March.
More info: https://aeur.eu/f/5en (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)