Press Release: Bluetongue: EU measures revised; Restriction zone extended, including into UK for the first time

A Commission proposal to amend the EU legislation on Bluetongue, bringing it more in line with World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) rules, was endorsed by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 3 October 2007. The draft Regulation lays down more harmonised measures for the monitoring and control of Bluetongue, and the restrictions to be applied in the case of an outbreak, taking into account recent developments in the disease situation, experience gained in disease control and scientific advice. The Standing Committee also voted in favour of extending the Bluetongue restriction zones to cover parts of South East England and more areas in France, Denmark, Czech Republic and Portugal due to further outbreaks of the disease.