Guidance Document on Pig Protection Endorsed

EU - EU Member States endorsed yesterday at SCoFCAH a guidance document on control and surveillance measures to protect pigs against the H1N1 influenza virus.

6 November 2009

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The veterinary services are to focus efforts on timely detection of the H1N1 virus by means of targeted surveillance and sustainable movement controls once virus enters pigfarms. The proposed measures are based on the underlying principles of vigilance, proportionality and flexibility

The Member States unanimously endorsed a draft Commission Decision on this issue, during yesterday's meeting of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).

SCoFCAH also granted Community financial support for the design and construction of the facilities of a control post to ensure the welfare of animals on transit in the port of Burgas, as included in a programme presented by the Bulgarian authorities. The Community financial contribution amounts to 152 000 EUR.

Finally, SCoFCAH supported unanimously a Commission draft Decision amending the rules on classical swine fever (CSF) in the light of the significant improvement of the disease situation in Romania. Certain derogations for fresh pig meat and of meat preparations and meat products obtained from fresh meat from CSF-free Member States and then processed in Romania under strict traceability measures are now allowed.

However, the disease situation in Romania still requires additional animal health control measures and their implementation along with the functioning of the new regime will be thoroughly monitored.