Opinion Of The Scientific Panel On Animal Health And Welfare On Request From The European Commission Related To: Assessing The Risk Of Foot And Mouth Disease Introduction Into The Eu From Developing Countries, Assessing The Reduction Of This Risk Through Interventions In Developing Countries / Regions Aiming At Controlling / Eradicating The Disease, And Tools For The Control Of A Foot And Mouth Disease Outbreak: Update On Diagnostics And Vaccines (Question No Efsa-Q-2004-113) Adopted 5 February 2006

Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) is a viral disease in animals that creates severe epidemics that reduce productivity and can profoundly affect the livelihoods of those rural communities that depend almost entirely on livestock agriculture. The potential impact to Europe was clearly illustrated by outbreaks that occurred in the UK in 2001, and subsequently in other member states in north-western Europe, resulting in the loss of millions of animals at a direct cost of more than (sic)12 billion. The epidemic also demonstrated that the political and economic impact of the disease spreads beyond the agriculture and food industries to other sectors of society.The European Commission's Directorate General on Development (DG DEV) asked EFSA to assess the risks to Europe of the re-introduction of FMD in the European Union (EU), to identify the likely pathways by which this could occur, and assess whether potential intervention measures in infected non-EU countries would reduce this likelihood.This study addressed the following questions:Is the EU likely to suffer new FMD outbreaks in the future?Most of the factors and circumstances which affected the introduction and spread of the disease in Europe from 1991 to 2001 have not changed. There are no indications that the risks could be expected to decrease. Therefore, many of the historical observations on introduction and subsequent spread of the FMD virus (FMDV) remain relevant for the future. These include geographical proximity with infected areas and commerce as well as ethnical, sociological, and cultural factors. As Europe experiences greater immigration and increased trade in commodities, particularly when transported chilled or frozen, it is likely that such factors will become rather more important.What are the main routes and the main geographical areas through which FMD is likely to be introduced in the EU?Imports of live animals originating from the Middle East represent a threat to the EU primarily, but not exclusively, to south-eastern Europe. Illegal importation of infected meat and meat products and possibly legal importation of other animal products such as casings (derived from intestines) from South-East Asia & China and South Asia are a threat that is more evenly spread throughout the EU.Should FMD be controlled at source, i.e. in the endemic areas for the benefit of the EU?It is by reducing the global weight of infection that the EU and other FMD-free areas of the world can achieve a sustainable reduction in their own risk.Following past FMDV introductions into Europe via imports from South America (meat) and south-eastern Europe (live animals), a strategy for risk reduction has been implemented for imports from these areas. These have included a strategy for reduction in the prevalence of FMD in these areas.However, these areas remain at risk to (re-)infection. A sustainable FMD risk reduction strategy for the protection of Europe will need to address not only the targeted and progressive control of FMD in the high risk primary endemic epidemiological clusters of South-East Asia & China (Indo-China) and South Asia, which currently represent the biggest threat to Europe, but also in eastern Africa and the Sahel.Can FMD be controlled in endemic areas?FMD control has been demonstrated to be technically feasible, if certain conditions are met. The measures recommended to be include taking a regional approach to disease control, setting up a global surveillance partnership, and putting together a strategy to promote safe trading. An essential condition for success is that the positive impact of the proposed measures accrues not only to the EU but also to local stakeholders at all levels.In what timeframe could FMD be controlled in endemic areas?Global progressive control of FMD is a protracted process which is anticipated to require 20-30 years. Therefore, FMD control in endemic areas supplements rather than replaces the current EU strategy.In conclusion, this assessment has established that Europe remains vulnerable to the introduction of FMD from endemic disease areas outside its borders. In the context of increasing globalisation with increasing imports of animals and animal products into the EU, not to mention the expansion of the borders of the EU itself, the risk from both legal and illegal activities is likely to increase. However successful the current EU strategy has been at keeping out the disease and however vital it is to maintain current measures and to expand them - as needed, the strategy component relating to the EUs involvement in third countries merits evaluation under current conditions.