Maatregelen tegen varkenspest in Duitsland enigszins versoepeld (en)

A draft Commission Decision modifying certain measures in place due to classical swine fever in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, over the past few months (see IP/06/589) was backed by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health today. The Committee agreed that pigs from the surveillance zone established around the most recent outbreaks in Borken may be moved to empty farms in the protection zone, subject to certain conditions. This is for animal welfare reasons, to avoid overcrowding on the farms in the surveillance zone, to which a movement standstill applies. Before movement of pigs from the surveillance zone to a farm in the protection zone, the holding of destination must be have been empty and thoroughly cleansed for at least 21 days, it must be situated at least 10km away from the national border, the pigs must undergo a veterinary test prior to departure, and they cannot be moved once they arrive on the farm, unless for slaughter.

In Detmold and Köln (territories in North Rhine Westphalia most distant from the surveillance zone) measures have been lifted, so that these areas will now subject to the same conditions as the rest of Germany outside North Rhine-Westphalia.

In Münster, Arnsberg and Dusseldorf, two zones are established: one (the Northen part surrounding the previous outbreaks) from which movement of pigs to other parts of Germany will not be allowed and the other one in the Southern part from which these movements will be allowed subject to certain conditions.

The Decision will apply until 31 July 2006, subject to review if new developments occur. However, from 30 June 2006 on, only certain restrictive measures on the movement of pigs in the surveillance zone in Borken will remain in place for a limited period.