Brussels, 06/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 2 June, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health took a positive stance in favour of a proposal allowing for measures to combat swine fever in the German Land of North Rhine-Westphalia to be eased. The decision allows for pigs from the surveillance zone established around the most recent outbreaks in Borken to be moved to empty farms in the protection zone, subject to certain conditions. This is to avoid overcrowding on the farms in the surveillance zone. Before pigs are moved from the surveillance zone to a farm in the protection zone, the holding of destination had to be empty and thoroughly cleansed for at least 21 days, and situated at least 10 km away from the national border. Also, pigs transported had to undergo a veterinary test to screen for the epizootic prior to departure. Once in the farm of destination, the pigs could no longer be moved except for slaughter.
The EU veterinary experts have also decided to lift restrictive measures concerning farms located in Detmold and Köhl, the territories of North Rhine-Westphalia that are the furthest within the surveillance zone. Also, two areas have been established in Münster, Arnsberg and Dusseldorf. In the northern parts of these territories, pig movements are banned, whereas, in the southern part, pig movements can resume. The decision applies until 31 July 2006.