Brussels, 05/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - In addition to the partial lifting of the embargo on French animal products, and the clearance given to the Netherlands to carry out limited preventive vaccination to eradicate the foot-and-mouth epizootic (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.8), the EU's Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC): a) gave its conditional approval for the vaccination of animals in zoos; b) reviewed the precautionary measures imposed on four Member States affected by the disease regarding their current epidemiological situation; c) reviewed the Union's embargo measures on imports from some third countries. The decisions approved were:
Vaccination in zoos - All the veterinary experts and the Commission felt that all zoos containing endangered species should take the necessary precautions to avoid the possible introduction of the foot-and-mouth virus, with closure to the public of animal houses of susceptible species and compulsory disinfecting measures at the entry to zoos. The SVC nonetheless approved the Commission's proposal to authorise each Member State to resort, if it so wishes, to an emergency vaccination programme of species sensitive to the foot-and-mouth disease in zoological parks containing endangered species, listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The vaccination will be authorised within a 25 km radius around a centre of foot-and-mouth. In exceptional cases, the relevant authorities will be empowered to extend the vaccination to other animals such as extremely rare breeds or animals used for irreplaceable and important research work. (See also p.12 on the subject of vaccinations).
The Member States that wish to resort to emergency vaccination must present a detailed programme to the Commission which, after examination of the data therein, will defend these initiatives with the relevant international institutions, and mainly with the International Office of Epizootics in Paris. The SVC and the Commission consider that the vaccination of zoo animals will not be a threat to a country's health status if the vaccinated animals are subject to adequate controls.
United Kingdom - The SVC approved the one month prolongation, until 18 May, of the restrictions in force.
Ireland - The current measures applicable until 19 April will expire on this date if no new centre of outbreak has been detected by then and if all the tests on suspect animals are negative.
Netherlands - The current measures will be extended until 25 April, with just one exception: the measures applying to the province of Noord-Brabant will be limited to the regions of Sprang-Capelle and Mare-Kassel-Herpen.
Restriction on animal movements in the EU - The restrictions in force are extended until 18 May. The SVC nonetheless approved the proposal aimed at authorising, under certain very strict conditions, the collection of animals in different farms to transport them to another holding.
Third countries - Argentina: The embargo on imports of fresh meat of every sensitive kind will be prolonged and reviewed in two months' time after a veterinary inspection mission, but the Member States will be authorised to accept exports before 13 March 2001 or certified at this date. Uruguay: The positive results of the veterinary inspection mission convinced the SVC that it must approve the lifting of the embargo imposed in October 2000 on all imports of meat and untreated meat products from the department of Artigas. Imports from Uruguay as a whole will therefore be authorised again.