Mouth and Foot Disease: New Regulation Coming

In the fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a new regulation from the Ministry of Health will take effect on Monday, which will specifically adjust the existing import restrictions. Specifically, the previously comprehensive import ban for certain animal products from Hungary will be limited to those areas designated as protection, surveillance, or other restricted zones according to EU disease law, as stated in a release on Saturday. Concerns were raised from Burgenland.

Several product groups affected

The import ban will continue to affect the following product groups from the mentioned restricted areas: live animals of susceptible species, fresh meat and raw milk, slurry and manure, as well as game meat, game in the hide, and hunting trophies. These measures are part of a comprehensive precautionary concept that Austria is implementing in close coordination with the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), neighboring states, and the European Commission. The goal remains to prevent the introduction of the highly contagious animal disease into Austrian territory, as stated in a release.

The veterinary authorities in Hungary and Slovakia have meanwhile taken intensive measures to combat the disease. The current situation assessment therefore allows the import ban to be "geographically differentiated" while maintaining a high level of protection, as the ministry emphasized.

Enhanced border controls not over

The reinforced border controls, the temporary closure of smaller border crossings, and the strict biosecurity requirements for businesses remain unchanged. The weekly comprehensive sampling in the surveillance zone and the risk-based investigations in the extended restricted zone will also continue.

Meanwhile, AGES continues to assess the epidemiological situation on an ongoing basis. The implementation of all protective measures is carried out in close coordination with the responsible ministries, state authorities, and the European Commission, emphasized the Ministry of Health.

Criticism from Burgenland

Concerns were raised from Burgenland. Deputy Governor Anja Haider-Wallner (Greens) and Chamber of Agriculture President Nikolaus Berlakovich (ÖVP) demanded in a joint statement "the postponement of planned relaxations on the import of animals and animal products" from Hungary and Slovakia "at least until the end of the Easter travel period." The new regulation of the Ministry of Health would make controls at the borders "de facto impossible," it was said. "This is not justifiable at the current time," emphasized Haider-Wallner. For Berlakovich, the decision comes "clearly" too early before the Easter week. "We must do everything to prevent the disease from spreading to Austria," said the former Minister of Agriculture.

At the border, the exact origin would be hardly controllable, Haider-Wallner and Berlakovich pointed out. "The new regulation would render the controls absurd in a critical phase in the fight against the disease," the Green politician was convinced. She pointed out that the latest case of foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia was only detected a week ago. "The disease has not been stopped in Slovakia and Hungary. Premature relaxations are the last thing we need now."

(APA/Red)

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