EU agrees to cut animal disease budgets

The European Union has agreed to cut funding to tackle animal disease across Europe by €45m.

Ministers at the standing committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health agreed to European Commission proposals to earmark €203m to develop disease eradication programmes in 2012.

The agreement on Thursday (10 November) also saw member states back the commission’s plans to contribute €11.5m towards an emergency vaccination fund to tackle certain animal diseases.

Officials said the reduction in budgets on 2011 figures showed measures taken to reduce animal disease outbreaks over recent years had been successful.

Bluetongue, avian flu and classical swine fever were some of the diseases which had shown marked reductions thanks to measures taken by member states and their farmers.

Key areas identified for the latest round of funding include €65m for bovine tuberculosis, plus €54m for tackling transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Funding dedicated to eradicating Bluetongue have been scaled back from €16.2m in 2011 to €7m in 2012.

Officials said the eradication of Bluetongue was progressing well, with member states shifting from a compulsory state-funded vaccine programme to a voluntary scheme.

Member states will also carry out surveillance for avian flu in poultry and wild birds with help from a €2.3m EU budget, with surveillance being the most effective way to detect early outbreaks and prevent the disease spreading, officials added.

EU health commissioner John Dalli said member states’ efforts to tackle animal disease had already resulted in reduced outbreaks of a number of diseases.

“Being aware of the current budgetary constraints, the commission has done its utmost to keep assisting, particularly in areas where difficulties persist and to ensure the maintenance of the vigilance in order to better protect consumers,” he added.