FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN FRANCE
Follow-up report No. 6

See also: 13 April 2001, 13 April 2001, 6 April 2001, 30 March 2001, 23 March 2001, 16 March 2001

Translation of an e-mail received on 2 May 2001 from Dr Isabelle Chmitelin, Deputy Director General, General Directorate for Food, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Paris:

End of previous report period: 13 April 2001 (see Disease Information, 14 [15], 88, dated 13 April 2001).

End of this report period: 30 April 2001.

Since 13 April 2001, 0 hours, all the specific Community restriction measures applied to France relating to the movement of live animals and trade in products have been lifted. Furthermore, the protection and surveillance zones established around the first outbreak, in the Mayenne and Orne departments, as well as the protection zone set up around the second outbreak, in Seine-et-Marne department, have been lifted, following the favourable results of serological testing conducted in these zones, in accordance with the Community regulations in force.

The movement and transport of animals of susceptible species and equids on French territory were prohibited by ministerial order dated 5 March 2001. These restrictions covered domestic movements, exports, imports and the transit of animals from other countries on French territory.

Following the favourable development of the epidemiological situation in France and in accordance with the general Community measures concerning animal movements in all the Member States other than the United Kingdom, the French measures have been relaxed while still allowing the channelling and control of movements of animals of susceptible species. Equids are no longer subject to restrictions.

The following movements are now authorised:

- movement of animals from one animal production establishment directly or via an approved collecting centre to an abattoir;

- movement of animals directly from one animal production establishment to another animal production establishment, subject to a period of stay for the animals that have been moved and a waiting period since the last animals were introduced into the establishment of origin;

- movement of animals from one animal production establishment to another animal production establishment via an approved collecting centre, under certain conditions.

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