EU Animal Health Strategy 2007–13
Biosecurity is a core part of the EU’s Animal Health Strategy for 2007–13, which provides the framework for EU animal health and welfare measures over that period.
Given the devastating impact that serious disease outbreaks can have on farmers, society and the economy, the 2007–13 strategy is based on the principle that “prevention is better than cure”. The aim is to put greater focus on precautionary measures, disease surveillance, controls and research, in order to reduce the incidence of animal diseases and minimise the impact of outbreaks when they do occur.
Biosecurity at farm level
The Strategy encourages animal owners, including hobby farmers, to implement effective on-farm biosecurity measures. However, as some contagious pathogens may easily spread from one farm to another, it also promotes a collective approach in addressing prevention and biosecurity measures.
In addition, according to the Animal Health Strategy, effective on-farm biosecurity measures will constitute an important criterion of zoning and compartmentalisation procedures for disease control and/or trade purposes. Disease-free status, biosecurity measures, animal welfare measures and veterinary control will also be possible means of rating holdings and supporting the development of the responsibility and cost sharing scheme.
Biosecurity at borders
According to the 2007–13 Animal Health Strategy, the challenge is to improve border biosecurity without severely disrupting cross-border movement of people and agricultural goods. Commercial consignments of products of animal origin or live animals need to meet a number of requirements before being allowed for import into the EU. The fulfilment of these requirements is checked at border inspection posts, by EU veterinarians.
Veterinarians and custom officials need to cooperate and work together at border inspection posts and at points of entry to the EU where goods or animals may enter illegally. The Strategy notes that it may be difficult for certain developing countries to comply with EU standards and thus engage in trade. The EU thus aims to build on ongoing initiatives and improve cooperation with third countries, providing them with technical assistance to help them to satisfy EU animal health requirements for imports and to fight against exotic diseases at their source.
A key objective of the Strategy is to make travellers aware of restrictions and of their responsibilities, to ensure proportionate enforcement, and to optimise the coordination of agencies/services regulating imports (customs/veterinary services).