July 26, 2007

Brazil outlines programme to eradicate FMD

The Brazilian agriculture ministry has laid out its new programme to completely eliminate foot-and- mouth disease in the country.

The programme -- in line with the measures given by World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) in May -- aims to establish responsibility for the eradication programme, build recognition and maintenance of FMD free zones, lays down a programme of vaccination and also the transport of susceptible animals, looks at the distribution of products and by products, and introduces new concepts of zone containment.

The ministry says it has also taken into account the comments made by the European Commission over the requirements for export to the EU following the last mission to Brazil.

The country has been battling against FMD for more than 40 years and not more than 50 per cent of the country and 80 per cent of the beef and pig herds were free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination, according to the ministry.

The recommendations for the new eradication programme have been sent out for public consultation which continues until 18 August.