The OIE (Office International des Epizooties) Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) and Other Epizootics Commission meeting on September 18-19 in Paris, replaced France, Ireland and the Netherlands in the list of FMD-free countries where vaccination is not used. These countries had lost that status following outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in March of this year. According to the OIE rules, countries can regain the disease-free status three months after the last case has been confirmed and stamped-out and after the slaughter of the last vaccinated animal. The remaining restrictive measures of third countries on the import of live animals, fresh meat and meat products, fresh milk and milk products and other products from FMD susceptible animals from France, Ireland and the Netherlands are now expected to be lifted. More information is available on the OIE web site.
