WRITTEN QUESTION P-3175/00

by Mariotto Segni (UEN) to the Commission

(4 October 2000)

Subject: Blue tongue disease

The alarming spread of blue tongue disease (sheep virus) has led to a livestock crisis in Sardinia. The virus could cause considerable damage to sheep, goat and cattle farms and to wild animals that are sensitive to it.

It has spread with extreme rapidity and other EU regions, such as Corsica, could also soon be affected.

Over 33 000 animals have already been slaughtered.

In the past the Commission has provided financial support under the EAGGF emergency veterinary fund to regions affected by similar disasters in order to limit the damage done by the spread of disease, to support scientific research on vaccines and to compensate farmers for the necessary slaughter of their livestock.

Given the current emergency in Sardinia, can the Commission inform:

- what practical measures does it intend to take to keep the virus in check?

- what measures does it intend to take to provide financial aid to compensate the damage resulting from the slaughter of cattle, the lack of income and the need to acquire new stock?

- how does it intend to restore the market balance in the dairy and sheepmeat sectors?

- how will it support scientific research in order to avoid irreparable damage being done throughout the Union?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2000)

The Commission's attention has been drawn to the bluetongue epidemic persisting in Sardinia since the end of August.

After Europe had been free from bluetongue for almost twenty years, there was an outbreak on Rhodes in 1998. During 1999, the disease spread through much of Greece and affected southern Bulgaria; at the end of the year, sources of infection were detected in Tunisia.

In response, the Commission has taken numerous regulatory and research initiatives.

A proposal for a Council Directive laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of bluetongue(1) was presented to the Council last year and could be adopted shortly under the French Presidency. In order to prevent the epidemic from spreading, measures have been adopted which restrict the movement of species at risk. Community compensation for the losses resulting from the epidemic in Sardinia will be considered under Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(2), subject to the same procedure as was adopted for the outbreak in Greece.

The Scientific Committee was asked whether vaccination should be carried out using the only vaccine currently available on the market: a diluted vaccine produced by a South African laboratory. On this crucial question, the Committee came down in favour of vaccinating with the South African vaccine when the disease becomes endemic

because the cold season is not long enough to break its cycle. Acting on that opinion, the Commission has set up two vaccine banks: one with three serotypes for Greece and the other with just one serotype for south-western Europe.

The Committee also wished to see further research carried out in respect of the vaccine marketed by South Africa, particularly as regards its use on species for which it was not originally intended (sheep and goats). Accordingly, the Commission has issued an invitation to tender so that institutes interested in undertaking this work can submit their proposals. The Committee advocated making public funds available to promote research on new-generation vaccines. The Commission undertakes to support any well-founded application in respect of research programmes to facilitate the development and marketing of a new vaccine without the drawbacks of the diluted vaccine marketed by South Africa. Lastly, the Commission has approved a major research project to update the information available on carrier populations around the Mediterranean rim, which until August 2000 formed the front line of the threat.

The Commission has thus attempted to explore all possible ways of tackling the issues raised by this alarming and unprecedented epidemic. In cooperation with the Italian authorities, every effort will be made to deal as effectively as possible with the problems facing Sardinian stock breeders.

To that end, the Commission will assess the impact of the disease on sheep farming. Under Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 of 3 November 1998 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat(3), exceptional measures may be taken to support a market affected by movement restrictions as a result of steps to prevent an epidemic from spreading.

(1) OJ C 342 E, 30.11.1999.

(2) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990.

(3) OJ L 312, 20.11.1998.