Brussels, 22/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Agriculture Ministers of the Member States gave a generally positive welcome to the new strategy of the European Commission for animal health, which was presented on 20 September. The Agriculture Council is to adopt conclusions on this subject at its meeting in December (17-18). Then in 2008, the Commission will adopt an action plan for animal health, with legislative measures.
Markos Kyprianou, the Commissioner for Health, spoke of the devastating consequences of outbreaks of animal diseases (risks to public health and the environment, consumer confidence and the “heavy” economic consequences) and pointed out that his strategy was based on the principle that prevention is better than cure. In other words, the Commission would like the Community budget in future to be spent rather on preventive measures (biosecurity, vaccination, monitoring, border controls) than on compensation to farmers affected by animal academics. This expected change of stance in terms of funding is of concern to several countries (Belgium, Spain, Ireland and Luxembourg). Mr Kyprianou announced that a study would be published in 2008 on details of how the financial costs would be shared between public authorities and operators, in particular looking into the solution of an insurance regime. The participation and commitment of the insurance sector received particular support from Sweden and the Netherlands.
The ministers then went on to stress the importance for the European Union of maintaining its very high sanitary standards and of looking to the support of the seventh framework programme for research and innovation, particularly in the field of vaccination. (L.C.)