International

Export of meat and animal products from areas that have been infected with Foot and Mouth’s Disease and where animals have been vaccinated is allowed. Thus says the Animal Health Code 2000. ‘All the more reason to stop the killing of healthy animals this very instance,’ says socialist MP Remi Poppe.

Export of meat and animal products from areas that have been infected with Foot and Mouth’s Disease and where animals have been vaccinated is allowed. Thus says the Animal Health Code 2000, a treaty drawn up by the international bureau for contagious animal diseases (OIE). The agreement was signed by 157 countries among whom all of the EU members. The Animal Health Code was last updated with the latest knowledge on FMD in 1997. It states that under certain conditions, export of meat and animal products, such as dairy and manure is allowed. In a letter to all EU counties, dated 23rd of March, OIE reminds them of this agreement.
’All the more reason to stop the killing of healthy animals this very instance,’ says socialist MP Remi Poppe. For months now, Poppe has been pleading to end the stamping out policy and to start vaccination. ’It is outrageous,’ he says, ’that members of OIE sign an agreement and still persist in stamping out, causing so much damage to farmers and the tourist industry and panic among meat consumers.’ Poppe’s proposal for a hearing with experts on international regulations on FMD got unanimous support in the Dutch parliament. He has prepared a motion in which he asks the government to urge upon other EU states to implement the Animal Health Code 2000.

Read the integral text of OIE’s letter to EU members