The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature has decided to introduce new precautionary measures for the veal sector.
It relates to a nationwide ban on the removal of veal calves and a ban on visitors.
The decision was taken after it became clear that calves from Brandenburg, a state in Germany, had been imported to the Netherlands via collection centres elsewhere in Germany in recent weeks.
On January 10, it was revealed that a number of water buffalo in Brandenburg had been infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). There is currently no reason or suspicion that there is an infection in the Netherlands.
Minister Femke Marije Wiersma said (translated): “Following the worrying news from Germany, I am very vigilant for an infection with foot-and-mouth disease in the Netherlands.
“At this moment, there is no reason or suspicion that there is an infection in the Netherlands. I hope that this will remain the case in the coming period.
“An initial investigation has shown that there have been no direct livestock transports from Brandenburg to the Netherlands since December 1. But because we now know that calves from Brandenburg have entered the Netherlands via collection centres elsewhere in Germany, I want to err on the side of caution.
“I also appreciate that the sector itself has already taken proactive measures. Hopefully, we can limit the chance of infection as much as possible,” she added.
The minister committed to maintaining contact with stakeholders in the sector and said she would share any further information from Germany or from experts that she receives.
Discharge ban and visitor ban on veal farms
The veal sector in The Netherlands has informed the ministry and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) that since December 1, more than 3,600 calves have been transported from Brandenburg to the Netherlands, via collection centres elsewhere in Germany.
These calves are located at more than 125 veal farms, spread across the Netherlands. The NVWA said it is investigating whether these farms have been infected with foot-and-mouth disease.
In order to limit the chance of possible spread as much as possible, a national ban on the removal of veal calves has been imposed.
An exception to this is removal to slaughter. This does not pose any risks to food safety. There is also a low risk of spread, according to the ministry.
These transports must comply with a mandatory hygiene protocol. In order to minimise the chance of spread via materials, a ban on visitors applies to veal farms.
Necessary visitors, such as a vet, are allowed, provided they adhere to a strict hygiene protocol. The measures apply at least until the results of the NVWA investigation and the situation in Germany are known. This is expected to last several days at least.
Further risk assessment for veal
In the meantime, the NVWA said it also looking at other sensitive animal species and categories, such as pigs and small ruminants such as goats and sheep, which may have had risky contacts.
In addition to the veal sector, other sectors have also been asked to report if animals or animal products have recently been imported directly or indirectly from Brandenburg to the Netherlands.
In addition, Minister Wiersma has asked the Animal Disease Expert Group to make a risk assessment as soon as possible.
She has also instructed Wageningen Bioveterinary Research to test the negatively tested samples that have been submitted for bluetongue research for the presence of foot-and-mouth disease. All measures are being taken as a precaution.
