Rapports, Archives: 33rd session - Appendix 21
The conclusions and recommendations were as follows
1. FMD situation in Europe and in other regions
The Commission noted with satisfaction that Europe had remained free of FMD since October 1996, but recognised the existence of the continuing threat of infection from neighbouring countries and regions and the need to maintain constant vigilance.FMD surveillance and control should be reinforced in the regions of potential risk to Europe (North Africa and the Middle East). The WRL should provide technical support and FAO/EuFMD and OIE financial support to facilitate the rapid collection of samples and the identification and characterisation of strains form this and other regions (particularly sub-Saharan countries).The role of small ruminants in the dissemination of the disease in North Africa should be investigated.Livestock in Algeria have not been routinely vaccinated in the recent past, except in certain border areas. General vaccination of all susceptible species (large and small ruminants with re-vaccination at 1 to 2 months post primary vaccination) is strongly recommended for Algeria. Annual revaccination should also be applied. In view of the urgency of the situation, the provision of vaccine from the EU vaccine bank should be considered. The European countries at greatest risk are similarly encouraged to provide vaccine in the form of bilateral aid.Vaccination and revaccination should be completed in Morocco and Tunisia as soon as possible. Vaccination coverage should also be verified by serosurveillance.
2. Report on the Commission’s activities during 1997 -1998
Collaboration with the other international organisations was encouraged. The role of the Tripartite Groups should be reinforced. Although the Commission's sole responsibility must remain with FMD, the meetings of the tripartite groups can include the discussion of other diseases and be open to a lager number of countries, in accordance with regional priorities. In this context, the technical meetings and regional workshops organised by the member countries in the Balkans are to be encouraged and should be continued.The procedures for the utilisation and reimbursement of the FAO/EC Trust Funds should be clarified between the organisations and the conclusions submitted to the Executive Committee (see point 12.2).The safe disposal of carcasses following the application of stamping-out is a major concern for all European governments. A study of this subject should be conducted covering the various relevant aspects (technical, public health, environmental and other considerations) and be presented to the 34th Session of the Commission.
3. General report on the situation in Turkey
The Commission noted with approval the progress made in the exchange of information between Turkey and the international organisations. The Commission was also pleased to note that there was no report of FMD in Turkish Thrace, but expressed its concern over the persistence of the disease in Anatolia and the necessity to improve the level of vaccination cover in Thrace and in Anatolia.The Commission noted appreciatively that a laboratory for molecular epidemiology had been established at the SAP Institute. The proposed cessation of all preventive vaccination against type A in Anatolia, as envisaged by Turkey from 1999, could represent a risk for Turkey in the medium to long term in view of the persistence of this type in neighbouring countries.The continuation of the current policy of vaccination will not achieve a sufficient level of cover to prevent or significantly reduce the circulation of virus.The Commission encouraged Turkey to press ahead with the development and production of oil vaccine at the SAP Institute and with the creation of the independent laboratory for the Quality Control of vaccines.The activities initiated by the EC vis a vis Turkey should be reinforced. The independent assessment of the quality of the FMD vaccines produced by the two laboratories in Turkey as foreseen in Community Decision 98/64/EC should be implemented without delay.The Technical Co-operation Project for the strengthening of surveillance and the improvement in the quality control of FMD vaccines as jointly proposed to FAO by Turkey and I.R. of Iran with FAO finance should be progressed.Turkey should redefine its vaccination and control policy for FMD to establish precise, feasible objectives by zone and with timescales. European experts could assist in this definition if necessary. The ultimate aim should be the eradication of FMD.The involvement of breed associations and of industry in putting in place measures for the control of FMD in general is encouraged.An ongoing programme of sero-surveillance for FMD in cattle and small ruminants is recommended, especially for Thrace. This ongoing programme should have two objectives: to verify the level of vaccination cover, to provide assurance of the absence of circulating virus in Thrace. The most recent serosurvey in Thrace should be finalised and the technology for the detection of antibodies to non-structural proteins should be transferred to the SAP Institute, so that objective (b) can be adequately attained.Turkish Thrace continues to be regarded as a key area for the defence of Europe against the spread of FMD and vaccination has been used to create a protective buffer zone in the area. Formerly, decisions on vaccination policy and vaccine strains were taken in collaboration between Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria and with advice and funding from the OIE, EuFMD and EC. While vaccine policy is now exclusively administered by Turkey, it is recommended that policy decisions should continue to involve the relevant national and international organisations.
4. FMD control in CIS countries
The Commission noted the creation of a new Tripartite group on the control of FMD in the CIS countries.The Commission accepted the interim reports from the Expert Groups' assessment missions to ARRIAH and the Caucasian countries and thanked them for their work. The final report will be distributed to member countries and the proposals for control measures for the medium and long term will be discussed by the Tripartite group in time for the next Executive Committee Meeting of EuFMD.The Commission endorsed the short term recommendation for the provision of bivalent vaccine for the creation of a barrier against the trans-caucasian spread of FMD and emphasised the urgency of implementation before the movement of livestock to summer grazing. The partial costs of these measures can be covered by the European Commission Trust Fund, up to a maximum of $340,000, and the Session requests that FAO makes the necessary arrangements for implementing this emergency programme by providing financial support for ARRIAH, Vladimir through a letter of agreement.The Commission endorsed the recommendation for a regional approach to the control of the disease, which would encompass Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia with co-ordination by the Vladimir Institute and collaboration with the three international organisations. There should also be collaboration with neighbouring countries, including I.R. of Iran and Turkey. The Commission recommended that the long term measures as put forward by the expert missions should be examined by the Tripartite Group and that the buffer zone be re-established. The possibility of having the buffer zone or the long term measures financed by the EC TACIS programme should be investigated by the CIS and other countries concerned.
5. Report on the activities of the Research Group and report of the FAO World Reference Laboratory for FMD during 1997 and 1998
The Commission acknowledged the importance of the rapid recognition of variant strains and strongly recommended that samples should be regularly submitted to the WRL for this purpose. The need for further research on optimal methods of controlling variant strains by vaccination was also supported.The Commission endorsed the recommendation that further research should be directed towards the development of new physico-chemical diagnostic tests of increased speed, simplicity, sensitivity and specificity. Collaboration in the development and validation of such tests should be extended to include laboratories not currently having membership of the Research Group.The Commission approved the continuation of the standardisation exercise for FMD diagnosis to Phase XVI, noting that this would include the preparation and distribution of sera by the WRL to be used as primary reference standards. Individual laboratories were advised to create their own secondary and tertiary standards, calibrated against the primary standards. Laboratories wishing to participate in Phase XVI were requested to contact the Secretary of the EuFMD Commission or the WRL.The Group considered that in most cases there was now sufficient data to allow the potency testing of existing, conventional FMD vaccines by the assay of neutralising antibody from vaccinated cattle in the absence of challenge. This opinion did not extend to new generation vaccines (such as sub unit vaccines) for which cattle challenge testing may well be necessary, at least in the developmental stages. The Commission endorsed the recommendation for the preparation and distribution of antigen and antisera appropriate to the detection of type A Iran 96 related viruses. It was also noted that a reassessment was recommended for the most appropriate type A strain(s) for inclusion in vaccines utilised in Turkey.
6. Progress in the Implementation of Contingency Plans in Member Countries
It is essential that all member countries maintain a constant awareness of the risk of FMD in their veterinarians, Veterinary Services and other relevant groups who are involved in agriculture, trade or tourism.It is recommended that validation of contingency plans by simulation exercises is a priority for all countries.The secretariat should re-contact the countries who have not responded to the questionnaire to see what progress has been made since andThe secretariat should improve the questionnaire for future sessions so that it can better determine the indicators of good surveillance for FMD Guidelines for Awareness Campaigns on the Risks of introduction of FMD by Tourism and TransportAwareness campaigns should be targeted at tourists and migrant workers with the distribution of leaflets at the borders. A draft copy of the leaflets has been prepared, and assistance will be offered in translating it into other languages.The meeting recommended that in view of the increasing difficulties experienced in the transhipment of diagnostic samples by some members with some airlines, the EuFMD Commission should pursue means to resolve the difficulties in consultation with OIE, WHO and IATA. EuFMD should work through the UN system to achieve this aim.
7. Availability of vaccines for emergency vaccination in Europe
The next questionnaire on vaccine availability should include questions on vaccine quality, the availability of vaccine for peripheral regions of Europe and on the response time for each vaccine bank and commercial supplier.
8. Financial Matters: accounts for 1997 and 1998 and proposed budgets for 1999 and 2000
The Session approved the accounts for 1997 and 1998 and the proposed budget for 1999 and 2000The favourable and stable financial situation of the Commission was noted by the Session, despite the increase in its activities. It was also noted that few countries were in arrears and that these debts would be followed up by the Secretariat.
9. Consideration of the position of Swine Vesicular Disease in relationship to its inclusion as an OIE List A Disease
The EuFMD should ask the OIE to consider the re-classification of SVD and its possible removal from OIE List A.
10. Using the EuFMD-EC Trust Fund (911100)
The Commission endorsed the Secretary's request recommanded that the procedure for authorising the release of monies from the EuFMD/EC Joint Trust Fund (9111000) and the replenishing of the fund, should be reviewed by the appropriate technical and financial services of the FAO, EC and the EuFMD with a view to improving the definition of the objectives of the fund and its functional procedures in the common interest of EuFMD and the EC.
11. Operation of the EuFMD Secretariat
The Commission recommended that the possibility of replacing the administrative personnel of the Secretariat should be studied as well as the possibility of allocating a budget for such administrative emergencies.