Press Release: FMD : SVC agrees to UK contingency plan

On 28 March 2001 the Standing Veterinary Committee approved a proposal of the European Commission fixing the conditions applicable if the plan for emergency vaccination of cattle in Devon and Cumbria (UK) is applied by the UK authorities. While confirming their strong commitment to the policy aimed at foot and mouth disease eradication the Committee acknowledged that in Devon and Cumbria there is a specific epidemiological situation where the disease is already widespread in sheep. The Committee confirmed that there is no support for general preventive vaccination of animals in the EU as a whole. The forthcoming Commission proposal for a revised Council Directive on Community measures for the control of FMD will, however, provide an opportunity for wide-ranging debate on all issues including in particular the use of preventive vaccination.