LEGISLATION ON THE SAFEGUARDING OF ANIMAL HEALTH IN THE EUROPEAN-COMMUNITY

The paper provides an overview of Community legislation on the safeguarding of animal health and comments on topical amendments that are being discussed. Special attention is given to the amendment of Directive 64/432/EEC the content of which can be summarised as follows: 1. More stringent requirements for intra-Community - and from a date to be fixed - national trade in bovine animals tor breeding and production. Approval of farms of origin shall be mandatory. Holdings are approved only if they participate in the epidemiological monitoring system agreed in the council. This means that the farm is regulary controlled by the ''responsible veterinary surgeon'' (= veterinary practitioner). 2. More stringent requirements for the intra-Community trade in pigs for breending and production. The approval of farms and thus their participation in the monitoring systems shall be compulsory in the case, too. 3. Inclusion of carcass disposal plants in the system of epidemiological monitoring through the introduction of a mandatory reporting system if larger numbers of dead animals are removed. 4. More stringent hygiene requirements for ail cattle and pig transports.