Commission adopts measures to help Cyprus combat scrapie

The European Commission approved a series of special support measures to help Cyprus better deal with the problem of scrapie in its sheep and goat populations.

The amount allocated for 2009 is 5,4 million Euros. For 2010 it is estimated that a further 8 to 9 million Euros will be made available for this purpose.

The approved scrapie programme for the years 2009 and 2010 submitted by Cyprus will receive special support, including a 75% level of Community contribution to the compensation paid to the owners by the Government of Cyprus as well as costs for personnel and the destruction of carcasses.

In order to reduce as much as possible the number of animals to be culled, the Commission also contributes to the genotyping programme so that all resistant animals are identified.

Commenting on the decision, EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said that “improved animal health can only have tangible and real benefits to the animals themselves but also to the farmers and the economy. Today, we have proven our will to substantially support Member States in their efforts to fight important animal diseases''

The European Commission decided also to provide additional financial support to the bluetongue vaccination programmes of various member states.