WRITTEN QUESTION E-1068/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tuberculosis testing in bovine animals.
Date: 2000-04-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European social policy, animal tuberculosis

C 374 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

(2000/C 374 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1068/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Tuberculosis testing in bovine animals

The only test for bovine TB approved in the EU is the single intradermal comparative test as specified in
Directive 64/432 (1), which is (cid:145)herd specific(cid:146) as distinct from (cid:145)animal specific(cid:146). Considerable work has been
done on laboratory blood tests from TB, with the gamma-interferon test being the most promising of
these. Would the Commission indicate when a blood test for TB in cattle is likely to be introduced and
give details of the type of test most likely to be employed?

(1) OJ L 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977-2012.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Annex B of Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-
Community trade in bovine animals and swine provides for the standards for the manufacture and use of
bovine and avian tuberculins. According to Community legislation in force, the tuberculin skin test is the
prescribed test. Also the manual of standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines of the Office international
des epizooties (OIE) prescribes only the tuberculin skin test for international trade purposes.

Denmark, Germany, the Provinces of Bolzano and Trento in Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria,
Finland, and Sweden have successfully eradicated the disease by using the tuberculin skin test and are
recognized as officially free Member States or regions in accordance with the Directive.

In accordance with Article 16 of that Directive the Commission, on the basis of an opinion of the
scientific veterinary committee, shall update and if necessary amend Annex B to adapt it to scientific
developments. In November 1999 the Commission received the final report of the scientific committee,
which is also published on the web-site of the Directorate general for Health and consumer protection.

In this report the scientific veterinary committee confirms the tuberculin skin test as the prescribed test.
However, it also refers to serological tests and the gamma-interferon test. With regard to the latter the
report concludes, that (cid:145)acceptance of this diagnostic assay as an official supplementary test procedure for
tuberculosis should be encouraged to allow its use under local conditions in individual eradication
schemes(cid:146).

The OIE recommends the gamma-interferon test only for animals that are difficult or dangerous to handle,
such as vicious cattle or other bovidae.

The gamma-interferon test is so far accepted as an official test for use in Australia, New Zealand and the
United States.

The Commission will review the technical annexes of Directive 64/432/EEC. However, this review requires
further consultation with Member State experts from diagnostic laboratories and veterinary administra-
tions.