EUROPE: France, Ireland and the Netherlands regain FMD-free status

The OIE (Office International des Epizooties) Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) and Other Epizootics Commission meeting at 18 and 19 September in Paris, returned France, Ireland and the Netherlands to the list of FMD-free countries where vaccination is not practised. These Member States had lost that status following outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease in March at this year. According to the OIE rules, countries can regain the disease-free status three months after the last case has been confirmed and stamped-out and after the slaughter of the last vaccinated animal. The remaining restrictive measures of third countries on the import of live animals, fresh meat and meat products, fresh milk and milk products and other products from FMD susceptible animals from France, Ireland and the Netherlands are now expected to be lifted. For more information on the OIE decision, see: