EU FREE FROM FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
The
following communication, received on 3 November 2025, is being circulated at
the request of the delegation of the European
Union.
_______________
Pursuant
to Article 6 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures, regarding regional conditions, including pest- or disease-free areas
and areas of low pest or disease prevalence, and in keeping with the principle
of transparency, we would like to inform WTO Members of the foot and mouth
disease freedom (FMD) of the European Union.
The
European Union (EU) upholds rigorous animal health standards[1]
to ensure food safety and animal health while enabling international trade.
This document outlines the successful disease control strategies employed by
Germany, Hungary and the Slovak Republic to implement effective regionalization
and swiftly eradicate foot and mouth disease (FMD) from their recently affected
territories.
FMD
is a highly contagious viral disease with significant economic repercussions,
affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Effective management of FMD is crucial to
maintaining animal health and facilitating trade. Recognizing disease-free
statuses and regionalization efforts is vital for fostering a cooperative trade
environment and ensuring safe international trade.
1 Germany, Hungary and the slovak republic: eradicating FMD
1.1. Germany, Hungary and the Slovak Republic have recently experienced
limited FMD incursions in distinct parts of their territories.[2]
In close collaboration with the European Commission and other EU member States,
Germany, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic have successfully applied the regionalization
(zoning) principle as laid down in EU animal health legislation which is in
line with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards to
effectively control and eradicate FMD from their recently affected territories.
By using this strategy, these EU member States implemented EU legislation to
identify and define specific high-risk areas where targeted risk-mitigating
measures were rigorously applied. The zoning concept enabled the distinction of
affected areas from those that continued to be free of the disease, prevented
the spread of FMD outside of these restricted zones and ultimately led to the
successful eradication of FMD from the affected territories of these three EU member
States.
1.2. Central to the success of this approach was the comprehensive
application of various disease control measures. These involved complete
killing of infected and at-risk herds, safe disposal of carcasses and
contaminated products, followed by thorough cleaning and disinfection processes
to eliminate any potential virus traces. In addition, emergency suppressive
vaccination was also used in certain infected and at-risk farms in Hungary and the
Slovak Republic, prior to stamping out. In Germany, far-reaching actions
prevented a secondary outbreak, making it unnecessary to implement further
measures and led to the immediate eradication of the animal disease without
vaccinations in that country. Enhanced surveillance was also employed inside
and outside of restricted zones, both in kept and wild animals, to closely
monitor for signs of FMD recurrence, ensuring swift responses to any outbreaks.
Movement restrictions were put in place to prevent the potential spread of the
virus, and systematic epidemiological inquiries were conducted including
extensive tracing to investigate the source and spread dynamics of the disease.
1.3. Germany, Hungary and the Slovak Republic have successfully regained
their official status "free from FMD where vaccination is not practised"
as recognized by WOAH.[3]
1.4. The European Union recently reviewed its strategies for controlling
FMD through a risk assessment conducted by the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA). This Scientific Opinion[4]
evaluated the existing control measures under the EU Animal Health Law,
underscoring the effectiveness of the zoning principle and robust surveillance
to manage FMD.
1.5. As a result of these coordinated efforts, the entire European Union is,
once again, officially free from FMD.
1.6. The European Union invites the WTO SPS Committee to acknowledge
Germany's, Hungary's and the Slovak Republic's regained WOAH FMD-free status.
This reinforces the efficacy of international standards in maintaining global
animal health and promoting safe and fair trade practices.
2 Supporting Documentation
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