Chief veterinary inspectors from the EU discussed the transport of live animals to third countries – 2024-10-31 13:02:00

Updates on disease prevalence in Europe were reported

The measures taken against some current animal diseases were discussed by the chief veterinary sanitary inspectors from Central and Eastern Europe at an informal meeting organized today at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Participants discussed the challenges of transporting live animals from EU member states to third countries. The importance of enhanced measures to protect the territory of the EU from the penetration of infectious diseases was also emphasized, given the strategic location of Bulgaria as an external border of the Union.

“In recent years, we have been faced with serious challenges and the spread of epizootics in new territories,” said Dr. Iliyan Kostov – Chief Veterinary Sanitary Inspector of Bulgaria.

At the meeting, up-to-date data on the dynamics of African swine fever (ASF) in Bulgaria and the member states during the last two years and the applied control measures were reported. The measures to control the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the 2023-2024 season were also discussed. The representatives of the veterinary authorities from Central and Eastern Europe informed about the current situation regarding these animal diseases in the respective countries. The focus of the conversation was also the situation in Europe regarding the bluetongue disease, serotype 3 and the necessary measures for receiving animal consignments from affected areas.

In addition, participants were informed about efforts to eradicate and monitor outbreaks of sheep pox in Yambol, Stara Zagora and Haskovo regions.

“It is necessary to act unitedly in order to successfully achieve the goal of protecting the health of animals,” said in this regard the executive director of the BABH, Dr. Svetlozar Patarinski.

The participants of the meeting agreed on the following recommendations to be put forward for discussion at the meeting of Directors General of Veterinary Services, which will be held next week in Brussels:

1. It is necessary for the European Commission to unify the rules for certification, control and movement of consignments of live animals vaccinated against serotype 3 of the blue tongue disease;

2. The need for a harmonized approach and prior document verification of consignments of live animals sent from Member States to Turkey or transiting through its territory.

The event was also attended by experts from the Directorates “Agro-Food Chain Policies” and “Livestock Breeding” at the Ministry of Health, and “Health and Humane Treatment of Animals” and “Border Control” at the BABH.