Swine fever measures relaxed further
The EU Standing Veterinary Committee (SVC) has approved two European Commission proposals for further relaxation of controls on the UK pig industry introduced following outbreaks of classical swine fever in East Anglia, UK. After the first incident was reported on August 8 there were five more confirmed outbreaks in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. On August 14 the EU banned all exports of live pigs and porcine semen from England to prevent further spread of the virus, which is of a strain-type previously unknown in Europe. Despite reports of another confirmed outbreak on September 4, the SVC meeting on the following day approved proposals to lift restrictions on herds in Essex and to allow pigs in the Old Buckenham district to be transported for slaughter. This follows the earlier lifting of restrictions on August 22 covering herds in counties outside the affected area. The curbs on movements in Norfolk and Suffolk will remain in place. At the SVC meeting national representatives commended the UK veterinary authorities for their prompt and effective action in controlling this highly contagious and economically important disease.