PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES REGARDING FURTHER MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE TO MALTA

13th March 2001

PRESS RELEASE

Further measures being taken to prevent the spread of

Foot and Mouth Disease to Malta

I

Due to the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease from the United Kingdom to another European Union Member State, in order to avoid the introduction of foot and mouth disease to the Republic of Malta, the measures published in the Press Release of the 9^th March 2001 (except for animal fodder, including hay and straw vide III) by this Department have been extended to cover all European Union Member States. Therefore the importation from these countries of the following products shall be prohibited -

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;

Telephone: 00356 225638/225930 Fax: 00356 238105

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).

II

Owing to special preventive measures, the import from these countries 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

The importation of animal fodder, including hay and straw, is prohibited from the United Kingdom and France.

Telephone: 00356 225638/225930 Fax: 00356 238105