Commission builds on Technology Platform and announces new animal health strategy
An initiative to set up a new EU animal health strategy to improve the prevention and control of animal diseases in the EU has been announced by European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner, Markos Kyprianou. Speaking at the Agriculture Council on 21 December, Mr Kyprianou also indicated that one of the highest priorities of the Commission in relation to animal diseases is the outbreak of avian flu in Asia, which could lead to a global pandemic. 'The devastating social and economic consequences of diseases like foot-and-mouth disease or avian influenza demonstrate the importance of a strong and effective animal health policy at EU level,' stated the Commissioner. 'The Commission intends to develop a new and improved animal health strategy for the EU, to go beyond what has already been achieved with the existing animal health policy,' added Mr Kyprianou. As Mr Kyprianou explained, animal disease outbreaks are costly and there are ethical issues related to the mass slaughter of animals when controlling an epidemic. Furthermore, there is growing concern about the potential impact of certain animal diseases on human health. For these reasons, the new EU animal health strategy will aim to develop a policy of disease prevention, make emergency vaccination a more viable option, simplify the legislation and finance new actions. Speaking on behalf of Mr Kyprianou at a Dutch presidency conference on 'the material and immaterial costs of animal disease control', in Brussels on 16 December, Deputy Director General Jaana Husu Kallio emphasised the importance of the Technology Platform on Global Animal Health for an effective animal health strategy. 'This initiative, that is driven by industry, aims to facilitate and accelerate the development and distribution of the most effective tools to control animal diseases of major importance to Europe and the rest of the world - such as new vaccines and diagnostic tests - thereby improving animal health and welfare, food safety, human health and market access,' said Dr Husu Kallio 'This Technology Platform will be aimed at sustaining and strengthening the research environment and infrastructure, thereby ensuring that Europe has an improved multi-disciplinary research capacity and a highly competitive industry. It will also focus on facilitating the rapid transfer of innovation into practical products', she added. The Commission intends to adopt in 2007 a Communication on animal health setting out actions for 2007 to 2013. All interested parties, including the European Parliament and Council, will be invited to support the process to create overarching guidelines to consolidate existing efforts and to foster the adoption and implementation of new key measures.