EU - Avian flu controls and pigs

The European Union is proposing to legislate on avian flu controls. Although its proposed directive is targeted mainly at the poultry industry, movement of pigs would also be involved. "The proposed laboratory tests, and actions following positive findings, appear reasonable and proportionate to the current knowledge and assessment of risk," says NPA policy manager Ann Petersson. Nevertheless she would welcome any feedback from members. • The competent authority shall ensure that following an outbreak, laboratory tests are carried out on pigs present on the holding to confirm or exclude the presence of avian influenza. No pigs shall be moved from the holding pending the results of those tests. • Where the laboratory tests confirm positive findings for avian influenza viruses in pigs, the competent authority may authorize the movement of those pigs to other pig holdings or to designated slaughterhouses, provided that subsequent appropriate tests have shown that the risk of spread of avian influenza is negligible. • The competent authority shall ensure that where the laboratory tests confirm a serious health threat, the pigs are killed as soon as possible under official supervision and in such a way as to prevent the spread of avian influenza, in particular during transport, and in accordance with Directive 93/119/EEC. • The competent authority may, following an outbreak or confirmation of a positive finding of avian influenza in pigs on a holding, and based on a risk assessment, apply the measures above to any other animals present on the holding and may extend those measures to contact holdings. • Member states shall inform the Commission of the results of the tests and measures applied pursuant to the paragraphs above. Additional measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza in pigs and other animals, may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 65 (3) (Source: Proposal for a Council Directive on Community measures for the Avian Influenza Brussels. 28.4.2005.)