November 22, 2006

Argentina to be certified FMD-free

Argentina expects to be declared free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) before the end of this year, the nation's top animal health official said last week.

A mission from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) would visit Argentina on Dec 6 to inspect progress made against FMD since an outbreak in the northern province of Corrientes in February.

Argentina would be certified as FMD-free with vaccination after the mission, said Jorge Dillon, director of animal health for Argentina's national animal and food inspection agency, SENASA. The certification would also improve the country's ability of exporting pork Import blocks.

This year's outbreak led many countries to block Argentine beef imports, although Singapore, Chile, Uruguay and Angola have recently lifted the import bans.

In 2003, Argentina joined forces with neighbouring countries to set up a commission to coordinate efforts to combat animal health problems in South America.