Important aspects of IBR Legislature in The EU and Norway

Abstract

The IBR situation varies between the different European countries. Scandinavia, Austria and Switzerland are considered free of IBR, while Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have national eradication programs in place. To ensure the health statuses of the different nations, different directives are in place to regulate the moving of animals across borders. One of the main directives is the European Union Council Directive 64/432/EEC. This is a directive for both swine and bovines that are destined for breeding, production and slaughter. It also sets the standards for hygiene and states the type of transport vehicle approved for this kind of transportation. Norway as a member of the EEA has also implemented this directive. In addition to rules for transport of live animals there are also separate regulations for the transport of different genetic material. For sperm collection and storing, the Council Direc-tive 88/407/EECdictates how this should be handled and it also describes the demands for the donor bulls’ health to be documented appropriately. The trading of sperm with third countries is under the same directive. The embryo export and import follows Council Directive 89/556/EECwhich also includes the handling of the donor animal and the teams responsible for the collection and production. Since there is no intra-community border control, special care must be taken to make sure that animal transport is in accordance with European law. Random spot-checks need to be performed according Council Directive 90/425/EEC,this directive also describes the TRACES system which harmonizes the veterinarian health certificates and makes it easier to certify that all requirements are fulfilled. At entry into the EU, additional inspections are to be carried out as stated in Council Directive 91/496/EEC.Various measures must be taken if animals do not comply with regulations. Specific bio-security measures towards IBR are found described in Council Directive 2004/558/EECthat is implemented from Council Directive 64/432/EEC.It acknowledges eradication programs presented by certain Member States and lists regulations for the rest of the EU countries in case of clinical signs being discovered. The conditions for ac-quiring an IBR free-status are given in the Directive 2007/584/ECand include documenta-tion of absence of clinical signs and negative tests. The duty to notify in case of disease is regulated by Council Directive 82/894/EECand the codified forms and the codes for the notification of animal diseases pursuant toCouncil Directive 82/894/. When Norway took part in the EEA-agreement in 1994, the bovine import to Norway also commenced. Norway has had little problems with IBR/IPV with only two positive IPV out-breaks in the early 1960’s and a positive bulk milk sample in 1993. According to the Food Act, IBR is classified as a B-disease in Norway and it is notifiable. If there is suspicion of IBR, measures must be taken as listed in Regulation No 732where both the owner and the Nor-wegian Food Safety Authority have responsibilities in order to prevent spread. Since Norway is free of IBR, strict rules for import and export must be in place to prevent infection. Regulation No 305 dictates regulations for countries with a lower IBR health sta-tus. A procedure that includes identity check, clinical examination must be performed and no signs of IBR must be revealed. Also an isolation period must be finished before ship-ment. The transportation is also under regulation by Regulation No 384which only allows animals fit to finish the journey to travel. During the transit, the animals must be accom-panied by a health certificate according to Regulation No 1484. At import to Norway, there must be a registration with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the delivery must be reported using a CVED. For sperm, Regulation No 1489includes both members of the EEA and third countries, and it describes the demands for sperm collection procedure, approval of the bull station and the donor bull. Embryos must be collected and produced by approved groups according to Regulation No 1486 and there must be no findings of IBR. The embryo collection work must be indexed properly and saved. Norway has committed to surveillance and control the IBR-free situation and to produce a report documenting the findings. In return, Norway gets additional guarantees from their trading partner-countries listed in EFTA Surveillance Agency Regulation No 74/94/COL which ensures that there shall be no risk of IBR infection among imported bovines.