EU-Cyprus agree on new control protocol on scrapie

A European Union laboratory will prepare a new control protocol on scrapie to confirm the genetic resistance of goats in Cyprus to the disease, according to Commission sources.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting in Brussels which has asked the Community Reference Laboratory to prepare the protocol, aiming at gathering more data with a view to confirm the genetic resistance of Cypriot goats to scrapie.

The meeting, which was held in a positive climate, was attended by representatives of European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection, Community Reference Laboratory, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Cyprus’ Veterinary Services.

The protocol will have to be approved by EFSA in July and then implemented in Cyprus.

The European Commission has recommended to the Cypriot authorities to replace disease-resistant male animals (billy -goats) in all herds, with priority given to infected herds.

The Commission will examine ways to fund the study for the new control protocol, and it will co-fund with 50% the cost of the genotype control of all goats in order to identify which are resistant and which are vulnerable to the disease.