Aiming to further strengthen the protection of human and animal health, the European Union earmarked more than €250 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in 2011.
Member States endorsed the financial package proposed by the European Commission during the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).
The 138 annual or multi-annual programmes, which have been selected for EU funding, will tackle animal diseases that impact both human and animal health. More than half of the total sum will be used to finance programmes to eradicate eight important animal diseases.
The reported cases of salmonellosis in humans continue to decline. In 2011, over €23 million is allocated to control zoonotic salmonella in breeding and laying hens and in broilers (Gallus gallus) and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in all 27 Member States.
Member States will also continue to carry out surveillance for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds in 2011 with financial assistance from the EU towards laboratory testing and wild birds sampling costs. About €3.6 million are being made available from the EU budget.
This surveillance is the most effective way to detect early outbreaks of both high and low pathogenic influenzas and was extremely useful in previous years.
SCoFCAH also endorsed another Commission proposal to allocate in 2011 €14 million to finance a network of European Union Reference Laboratories in the animal health and food safety area. These laboratories act as reference points for the Commission and Member States and are essential elements in the EU policy to ensure a high level of animal health and food safety throughout the European Union.
The laboratories offer specialised advice in areas of animal health, food safety and residues. They also co-ordinate Laboratories in the Member States and ensure high standards by carrying out comparative trials on testing methods and standards.
For more information, please visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/financial/index_en.htm
