More EU Cash to Help Control Animal Diseases and Pathogens

The EU has earmarked more than €203 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases and zoonoses, aiming to further strengthen the protection of human and animal health in 2012.

The decision was taken at the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).

The European states also unanimously endorsed the Commission proposals to contribute €11.5 million to emergency measures and vaccination plans taken to combat some animal diseases over the past four years.

John Dalli, EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner said: "It is rewarding to witness the tangible benefits of the EU's efforts, which have resulted in a significantly improved situation on TSE, Salmonella, Rabies, Bluetongue, Classical Swine fever, Avian Influenza, tuberculosis and brucellosis."

The EU moves have been made in the face of budgetary constraints, but go some way to strengthen the Commission's role in battling food-borne pathogens in assisting domestic regimes.

In Thailand, the effects of the recent flooding are starting to be felt in the price of pig meat on the markets.

Pig producers are rushing to sell animals at a short-term profit, but this could have a severe knock-on effect to supplies in the New Year.

The present oversupply has sent prices falling to as low as 40 baht a kilo in some areas for live pigs, while wholesale prices are 100 baht a kilo and retail prices are 120-130 baht. Last month, live swine went for 57 baht a kilo, while pork was sold for 110 baht wholesale and 130-140 baht retail.

This surplus now is going to lead to a shortage in January, analysts have forecast.

In the Netherlands, the moves to end castration of pigs to prevent boar taint in meat have taken a new turn as IKEA Netherlands decided to completely remove castration in their pig supply chain.

The decision will apply to products which are purchased in the Netherlands.

The news has been welcomed by animal welfare activists Eurogroup whose director, Sonja Van Tichelen, said: "This is great news, and we urge other food retailers across Europe to follow the example."