November 3, 2006

Romania to wipe out swine fever by December 2007

Romania would begin its swine fever eradication plan and emergency vaccination programme Dec 1 to comply with EU requirements, Marian Avram, head of the country's veterinary authority said Monday (Oct 30).

The plan is expected to be completed by December, 2007, Avram said.

The European Commission has approved the veterinary authority's swine fever eradication plan and would give Romania half the EUR45.3 million it would need for the programme.

The EU's ban on live pigs and pork from Romania, started in 2003 due to swine fever outbreaks, would be in place until the swine fever eradication plan is finalised.

Romania's programme would be assessed by the EU nine months into implementation.