Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja considers that the EU needs a clear strategy on animal health issues. Minister Korkeaoja spoke today on 7 November at a Conference on Animal Health Policy in Brussels, which is part of the joint EU Presidency Programme of Finland and Austria.

In Europe food safety and animal health and welfare have become increasingly important aspects of livestock production. Consumers expect not only safe food and high quality, but also a high standard of production ethics. According to Korkeaoja, consumer confidence in European food has stayed high, despite the quite serious animal diseases, thanks to the efficient and skilled veterinary services.

Korkeaoja expressed his satisfaction with the completion of a comprehensive assessment of the Community Animal Health Policy. We should learn from the past crises and, through this, avoid similar problems in the future.

In the assessment special attention was directed at the fact that the EU lacks an animal health strategy. Provisions on animal health are laid down in more than 600 regulations, directives and decisions, many of which have been created as a response to crises. A strategy for 2007-2013, aimed at better coordination and organisation of these rules, is now being prepared at the European Commission.

In 1995-2005 the EU financed the prevention and combating of animal diseases by about 989 million euros. Of this as much as 85 per cent was spent on compensating for the consequences of animal disease crises in only two Member States. According to the assessment, the Community funding should focus strongly on preventive action.

The assessment also reviews different funding models through which the owners of animals would also participate in paying for the costs of animal diseases. The owners' contributions would be differentiated on the basis of the true risk so that the system would provide an incentive for the farms to undertake more efficient precautionary action.

Livestock production varies a great deal within the EU. Korkeaoja sees this variety as very positive as regards different kinds of foods and food cultures, but it also places great challenges for the animal health policy. According to Korkeaoja, to ensure efficient operations on the EU level, the legislation needs to be well adjusted to the local conditions in different Member States.

Further information at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
Jouni Lind, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. 358 (0)9 160 53302, 358 (0)50 521 3305