Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission is in constant and close contact with the competent authorities of the Member States to analyse and manage animal disease outbreaks under the Animal Health Law[1] within the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee)[2]. Relevant Agencies, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), are supporting the Commission and the Member States through targeted Scientific Opinions and Reports on the evolution of the epidemiological situation in relation to several animal diseases.
2. The Commission offers support to competent authorities and stakeholders through training initiatives, such as the Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF)[3], and the deployment of the EU Veterinary Emergency Team (EUVET)[4]. Furthermore, antigen and vaccine banks for certain animal diseases managed by the Commission are made available to the Member States in case of need. The Commission also performs audits in Member States aimed at monitoring the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation on animal health[5]. Finally, the EU co-funds certain disease control measures performed by the Member States for priority animal diseases through veterinary programmes[6] and emergency measures[7].
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’).
- [2] https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/committees/paff-committees/animal-health-and-welfare_en
- [3] https://better-training-for-safer-food.ec.europa.eu/training/
- [4] https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-diseases/veterinary-emergency-team_en
- [5] https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/official-controls-and-enforcement/health-and-food-audits-and-analysis_en
- [6] https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/funding-procurement-grants/food-chain-funding/funding-animal-health-measures/national-veterinary-programmes_en
- [7] https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/funding-procurement-grants/food-chain-funding/funding-animal-health-measures/emergency-measures_en