Argentine meat import ban relaxed

Date: 17/01/02

The European Commission's Standing Veterinary Committee this week partially lifted its ban on meat imports from Argentina, imposed in the aftermath of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak last March.

From 1 February, imports of deboned and maturated fresh beef will be authorised from the whole country apart from the provinces of La Pampa and Santiago del Estero.

Health inspectors have carried out two major vaccination programmes to control the spread of FMD and confirmed that there had been no further outbreaks for 60 days in all but the two provinces.

David Byrne, commissioner for health and consumer protection, welcomed the progress in eradicating the disease. 'We had to act decisively in introducing the ban in March in order to protect the EU from the risk of foot and mouth disease. However, it is now appropriate to...review this decision. I encourage Argentina to continue its disease eradication efforts.'