92002E1682

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1682/02

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 June 2002)

Subject: Use of sniffer dogs against spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus from South Korea

FMD has again broken out in South Korea (on 30 April), just after the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) had officially declared the country free of the disease (simultaneously with the Netherlands, France and Ireland).

This June, the 2002 football world cup competition is taking place in Japan and South Korea, and many football fans will travel there from the European Union. Whereas the organisers are concerned that fans will stay away from Japan because of the FMD outbreak, others are concerned about the risk that the infection may be spread by those fans who do come. The authorities maintain that the area concerned is a long way away from the football stadiums and that there is no risk that FMD will spread.

What will the Commission do to prevent FMD from being carried into the European Union from South Korea?

Are any measures being taken at European airports to use sniffer dogs to identify plants or meat and cheese products brought with them by private individuals and to destroy them?

Will disinfection measures be introduced at and around airports (in Japan, South Korea and Europe) to prevent the exportation and importation of the FMD virus?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2002)

With reference to the questions raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission wishes to refer to its reply to written questions P-1535/02 by Mr Böge and P-1544/02 by Mr Maat(1) on the same subject.

On 3 June 2002 a new outbreak was reported in addition to those 12 outbreaks reported until 20 May 2002. According to the information from Korea it would appear that also the last outbreak reported so far occurred in rural areas about 40 km away from the nearest football venue.

The competent authorities of the Republic of Korea have started an awareness campaign to inform soccer fans and provide information on the Internet (http://www.nvrqs.go.kr).

Equally, the competent authorities in the Member States have launched information campaigns for people returning from foot-and-mouth disease infected countries and the Republic of Korea in particular.

In addition, a draft Commission Decision aiming at harmonizing the methods employed to raise public awareness and to reinforce controls at ports of entry will be presented to the Member States at the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health shortly.

(1) See page 172.