WRITTEN QUESTION E-0452/99

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Epidemic of swine vesicular disease

In the province of Mantua, Italy, there were three outbreaks of vesicular disease at the end of January that led to the slaughter of some 10 000 pigs. Vesicular disease is a mild disease from a symptomatological point of view and, apart from a high morbidity rate, runs its course in a few days with no particular consequences for the animals affected apart from an occasional sloughing of hooves. Vesicular disease is caused by an enterovirus and from a symptomatological point of view has a close affinity to foot-and-mouth disease whose impact on the animals affected (also cattle) can be considerable. The flesh of the pigs struck down by vesicular disease is used for zootechnical purposes.

In the light of the present state of affairs breeders tend not to report cases of vesicular disease because of the drastic health measures in force. Contrary to what happened in the past, the diagnostic means now available make it possible to distinguish the vesicular disease virus from the foot-and-mouth virus more quickly.

Does the Commission not think it should review the existing health provisions and remove vesicular disease from the list of notifiable diseases? Does it not think that the slaughter measures are abnormal given the mild nature of the disease? How long does it take with the existing diagnostic instruments to distinguish between the vesicular disease virus and the foot-and-mouth one? Does the use of the flesh of the animals infected for the production of meal not conflict with Community provisions following the BSE crisis? What does the total compensation paid to breeders for slaughter in recent years amount to? Has an accurate cost/benefit analysis been made of current preventive measures?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1999)

Current provisions on swine vesicular disease (SVD) are included in Council Directive 92/119/EEC of 17 December 1992 introducing general Community measures relating to swine vesicular disease(1), which was adopted taking into consideration that this disease is classified in list A of animal diseases of the Office international des épizooties (OIE). This body is indicated in the agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the World trade organization as the technical referent for the development and promotion of international animal health standards, guidelines and recommendations affecting trade in live animals and animal products. List A includes the animal diseases for which an immediate notification of outbreaks is compulsory due to their major economic importance and rapid spread. Therefore, substantial changes to Community policy on a disease such as SVD are possible only if the current OIE classification is modified.

One of the reasons for including SVD in list A is its similarity with foot and mouth disease. In recent times new diagnostic tools have been developed which allow a quick differentiation between the two diseases, usually within twenty-four hours.

In accordance with relevant Community legislation, meat-and-bone meal from mammals to be used to feed non-ruminant species must undergo a specific heat treatment to inactivate the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The use of carcasses of pigs slaughtered due to SVD for the production of meat-and-bone meal is not contrary to these provisions.

In the last three years in the Community outbreaks of SVD only occurred in Italy. The compensation for pig farmers following the 1997 outbreaks amounts to 8 833 million Italian lira (euro 4,6 million). The Italian authorities have not yet sent the figures for 1998 to the Commission, but the amount is likely to be close to that of 1997, given the number of pigs slaughtered.

The Commission has not carried out a cost/benefit analysis on the measures established to combat SVD. However, in order to evaluate the benefits of current eradication policy, it must be taken into account that the presence of this disease can represent a serious obstacle to intra-Community trade and the export to third countries of live pigs and their products.

(1) OJ L 62, 15.3.1993.