Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/445 |

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(2004/C 84 E/0519)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject:   Johne's disease

What plans does the Commission have to address the animal welfare issues posed by Johne's disease in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(1 April 2004)

The Commission is obviously concerned at the serious animal health and welfare issues posed by the occurrence of Johne's disease (paratuberculosis) within the EU.

With a view to increasing the available scientific knowledge, a number of specific research projects have already been funded under the Community's Framework Programmes to investigate this disease. These have considered aspects such as improved diagnostic methods, epidemiology and risk assessment, the role of wildlife in disease transmission and management tools to control the disease in domestic ruminants.

The Commission has also recently requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to issue a scientific opinion on the risk of transmission of the causative organism Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis via bovine semen.

The Commission will carefully analyse the outcome of this work and ongoing scientific advances with a view to taking appropriate steps to safeguard the health and welfare of animals within the EU.

In addition, it should be noted that programmes for the control and/or eradication of Johne's disease are in principle eligible for Community co-financing within the framework of Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field[(1)](#ntr1-CE2004084EN.01044501-E0001). However, to date, no Member State has submitted such a programme to the Commission for consideration.

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