The proposal, adopted by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), foresees that all restrictions on trade of live pigs, pork and pork products from Lithuania to other Member states and third countries are lifted. CSF in Lithuania was first diagnosed in the Jonava district within the Kaunas County on 1 June in a holding of 16,000 pigs.

A series of outbreaks were consequently recorded during the following week. These outbreaks prompted the Commission to adopt measures, including requirements on additional testing ( Commission decision 2011/508/EC). The Lithuanian authorities have now provided evidence that all the required checks have been carried out. SCoFCAH also agreed on a Regulation reducing the import restrictions from South Africa to a small part of the Western Cape Province.

Following this decision, the EU Member States can import ostrich meat from South Africa's other eight provinces. Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N2 subtype (not the "Asiatic" H5N1) have occurred since April this year in South Africa's Western Cape province. Following these outbreaks, the Commission prohibited imports of live ostriches, their eggs, ostrich meat and meat products from the whole territory of South Africa ( Commission Regulation (EU) No 536/2011).

South Africa has consequently implemented disease control measures and carried out extensive surveillance improving the disease situation. South Africa is now confident that the infection has been limited to a defined area within the Western Cape.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on classical swine fever by clicking here.