§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of equine viral arteritis have been reported to date in the current year within each member state of the European Community.
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§ Mr. SoamesWe have no comprehensive or reliable information on the number of outbreaks of equine viral arteritis (EVA) in other member states.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Community member states currently designate equine viral arteritis as a notifiable disease; and what plans she has to embark on such a classification in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SoamesThere is no requirement in EC law for equine viral arteritis (EVA) to be made notifiable, but I am informed that the disease is notifiable in Italy.
The Government have decided that, for the following reasons, EVA should not be made notifiable. First, there is no EC requirement to do so. Secondly, movement restrictions would have to be applied to horses on infected premises and could not be removed from those animals that were permanent carriers. This would cause financial hardship out of all proportion to the severity of the disease.
The United Kingdom thoroughbred industry has for some time operated a voluntary code of practice for the prevention and control of EVA, which includes guidance on the appropriate measures to prevent the introduction and spread of the disease. The code is considered to be an effective means for stud owners and others to protect their animal health status, and its use is commended to all sectors of the equine industry.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list each occasion on which her Department was issued with warnings of inadequate testing arrangements in Poland by the Animal Health Trust prior to the recent outbreak of equine viral arteritis in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SoamesOn two occasions, the Animal Health Trust has drawn to the Department's attention seropositive test results for equine viral arteritis virus in imported horses accompanied by Polish certification. However, on neither occasion has there been any conclusive evidence of inadequate testing arangements in Poland.