Brussels, 17/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union's Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) has to decide, on Wednesday, on the request made by the German Land of Northern Westphalia-Rheinland to be allowed to vaccinate 800,000 pigs and 30,000 cows against the foot-and-mouth disease. This measure should allow for the creation of a protection area along the border with the Netherlands (which has detected 25 cases of foot-and-mouth, some outbreaks of which declared at less than 50 km from the German border). In deciding not to go through will the mass cull of susceptible species and opting for the most ethical solution, Germany could lose its status as foot-and-mouth free zone. Whence, it would risk exposing itself to embargoes by certain third countries on the export of live animals and meat products.
The SVC should also decide to extend the restriction measures imposed on Northern Ireland. These measures were to have ended on Wednesday 18 April, but the discovery, Friday and Sunday, of a second and third outbreak of foot-and-mouth changed all that. Other consequence: Ulster would lose its status as being distinct from the United Kingdom, which the SVC had granted it on 3 April, and would therefore no longer be able to export meat or meat products.
The lifting of the Community embargo on the Portuguese export of live animals (bovine, porcine, caprine and ovine) has been effective since Friday, as the SVC decided on 27 March. On this same date the restriction measures on the export of untreated products such as fresh meat and fresh milk from the three Départements of Seine-et-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val d'Oise were also lifted. As a reminder, the Commission lifted the embargo on the export of untreated livestock products from the rest of France on 3 April.
However, exports remain subjected to the authorization of the country of destination. France's Agriculture Minister, Jean Glavany, spoke of his desire to "step up the pressure, notably on the Italians" who are the foremost importers of live French cattle (one million heads a year), especially male grass-fed calves. Although Italy has taken the decision to close its borders until 19 April, uncertainties remain on Spain's position, France's second largest customer for live cattle, with 200,000 heads imported annually.
Like other European countries, France's livestock remains subjected to a Community decision of 6 March which, to combat the propagation of the disease, bans the movement of animals, except in certain cases, from farm to farm and from farm to slaughterhouse. This decision, reviewed every week by the SVC, expires on 18 May. A certain amount of flexibility has however been decided, like the authorization for the gathering in a single place of animals earmarked for the abattoir and under strict conditions.
In addition, a decision dated 10 April 2001 sets minimum requirements regarding measures to take before the lifting of restrictions implemented in protection and monitoring areas in Europe. These measures do not apply to the United Kingdom, given that the epidemiological situation is still of great concern. Regarding protection areas, measures applied there must remain in force at least two weeks after the eradication of all species of animals susceptible to the disease present on the farm and once the later has been cleaned and disinfected. Regarding the monitoring areas, this space of time is thirty days. Whatever the area (protection or monitoring), the lifting of restrictions is dependent on a conclusive enquiry that the disease has indeed been eradicated.