PRESS RELEASE TO FURTHER CLARIFY ALL MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) FROM UK TO MALTA

09 March 2001

PRESS RELEASE

to further clarify all measures being taken to prevent the spread of

Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD) from UK to MaltA

I

In order to avoid the introduction of foot and mouth disease to the Republic of Malta, the import of the Republic of Malta and transit over the territory of the Republic of Malta shall be prohibited for the following consignments that originate in UK including Northern Ireland.

1. Domestic ungulates (bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals) [Live animals];

2. wild ungulates [ live animals];

3. animal semen, ova and embryos of ungulates;

4. fresh and frozen meat of domestic and wild ungulates;

5. foodstuffs, raw materials and waste obtained from domestic and wild ungulates, with the exception of the following products:

a. milk and milk products, when pasteurised at the temperature of 71.7 ºC for a period of 15 seconds, under the surveillance of an official veterinarian, and followed 

by:

- further heat treatment, whereupon a peroxidase test has shown a negative reaction,

or

- drying process including the heating, with an effect that is equivalent to heat treatment under preceding indent, 

or

- alternative treatment to decrease the pH and maintain it at a value of less than 6 for at least an hour;

b. hermetically sealed containers, with a value of F3 or more reached at treatment, i.e. sterile containers;

c. alternative thermal treatment of products, reaching a temperature of at least 70 ºC at the core of product, i.e. technical grease, gelatine and similar products;

d. chemically fully processed animal proteins, as wet-blue, chrome-tanned hides and skins, chemically and thermally treated wool, boiled bristles, and similar products;

e. hides and skins of ungulates, when treated by one of the following procedures:

- soaking in calcium lye at pH 12 to 13 for at least 8-10 hours and, thereafter, treatment by acid at pH 1 to 3 for at least 6-10 hours, 

or

- salting for at least 7 days in sea salt, by addition of 2% sodium carbonate, or drying for 42 days at a temperature of 20 ºC;

- the method of treatment shall be identified in the veterinary certificate;

f. wild animals trophies, when boiled in hot water for an appropriate period of time so as to remove any other substances but the bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers or teeth;

6. Animal feed of animal origin obtained from ungulates (not applicable to the feed in hermetically sealed containers intended for pets, or to dry and semi dry feed for pets, or dog-chews).

7. Animal fodder including hay and straw.

II

Owing to special preventive measures, the import from Great Britain of any live animals, waste of any animal species, as well as animal feed of animal origin obtained from any animal species shall be prohibited (not applicable to the feed in hermetically sealed containers intended for pets or to dry and semi dry feed for pets).

Further any direct import of second hand vehicles have to be notified to the Director of Veterinary Services for the necessary disinfection action.

III

If during any time the FMD outbreak spread to any other European country, then the measures listed above shall be extended to all European Countries.