Brussels, 10/01/2008 (Agence Europe) -European Commission's proposal for a decision to ease foot and mouth disease (FMD) restrictions in Cyprus was endorsed on Thursday 10 January by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. Since early November 2007, no new outbreaks of the disease have been recorded on the island of Cyprus, now considered to be in the “low risk” category.
Given the above proposal, which has still to be formally adopted by the Commission, restrictions on the movement of cattle have been lifted. The export trade may therefore resume without significant restrictions for meat and meat-based products from cattle, sheep, goat and pigs. As a precautionary measure, however, and to comply with international requirements, the export of live animals, semen and embryos from Cyprus will still be banned. If the disease situation remains favourable, all FMD measures for Cyprus will expire at the end of January.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health has also been informed that all measures to combat FMD in the United Kingdom expired as foreseen on 31 December 2007. The UK reported its last outbreak of the disease in September 2007, in Surrey (EUROPE 9500). (L.C.)