1. ASF in Eastern Europe: achievements and perspectives
African swine fever
ASF in Eastern Europe: achievements and perspectives
Ministerial Meeting, Tallinn, 26/02/16
Dr. B. Van-Goethem,
Director
Crisis Management in Food, Animals and Plants
DG SANTE

2. ASF in the EU Eradicated from
Eradicated from
France (1974)
Mainland Italy (1993)
Belgium (1985)
Netherlands (1986)
Spain (1994)
Portugal (1999)
EU approach effective in eradicating ASF from mainland and containing it to Sardinia
Sardinia is an excellent example of how the EU regionalization approach has worked effectively  ASF has been contained to the island for decades!

3. ASF in the EU: Recent history

4. 2007

14. Timeline
OIE notif. ASF in Ukraine
OIE notif. ASF in Georgia
TAIEX training
CVET in Ukraine
TAIEX training
TAIEX training
TAIEX training
EFSA opinion on ASF
FVO audits in EE, LV, LT, PL
OIE notif. ASF in Russia
EFSA opinion on ASF and ticks
OIE notif. ASF in Belarus
TAIEX training
Com req. to EFSA on ASF
TAIEX training
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
EC Financial Decision on prev. measures
EC Decision on disinfection of lorries
new ring trial
new ring trial
new ring trial
new ring trial
new ring trial
new ring trial
new ring trial
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting

15. Timeline
Commission publishes guidelines ASF surveillance
EC Dec on LT (interim and CID)
CVET in LT
CVET in PL
EC Dec on ASF region. 2014/178
OIE notif. ASF in Georgia
CVET in LT
(Ingalina)
EC Dec on LV and LT (interim and CID)
EC Dec on LT (interim and CID)
EC Dec on ASF region. 2014/178
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/178
OIE notif. ASF in Belarus
EU ASF strategy
ASF in LT
OIE notif. ASF in Russia
EC Dec on ASF region. 2014/709
CVET in LV
ASF in PL
ASF in LV
CVET in LV
OIE notif. ASF in Ukraine
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
TAIEX training
new ring trial
ASF in EE
GF-TADs 1st meet. (coordination 7 countries)
EC Financial Decision EE, LV, LT and PL
FVO follow-up audits in EE, LV
EFSA technical report on ASF
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
CVET in EE
EC Regulation on market support
STM training
GF-TADs kick off (coordination 7 countries)
FVO audit on ASF in LT and PL
EC Reg.on market support
EFSA opinion on ASF
BTSF training

16. Timeline 2015 2016 EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
OIE notif. ASF in Georgia
ASF in LV
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
EC Regulation on exceptional aid to farmers
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
OIE notif. ASF in Belarus
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
ASF in PL
Minist.meet. Vilnius
ASF in LT
EU ASF principles regional.
OIE notif. ASF in Russia
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
New EU ASF strategy
ASF in EE
OIE notif. ASF in Ukraine
2007
2008
2009
2015
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2016
EC Reg.on market sup.
EC Financial Decision EE, LV, LT and PL
EC Financial Decision HU and SK
GF-TADs (field visits in affected countries)
TAIEX training
EC Grant Decision 2015 ASF Progr.
EC Reg.on market support
GF-TADs (field visits in affected countries)
EC Financial Decision HU and SK
new ring trial
GF-TADs 2nd meet. (coordination 7 countries)
EURL diagnostic perf.
meeting
FVO audit on ASF in EE
BTSF training
STM training
EFSA opinion on ASF

17. Timeline 2016 CVET in RO CVET in MD Ministerial meeting in Tallinn
OIE notif. ASF in Georgia
ASF in LV
CVET in RO
CVET in MD
OIE notif. ASF in Belarus
ASF in PL
EC Dec on ASF region. Modif. 2014/709
Ministerial meeting in Tallinn
ASF in LT
OIE notif. ASF in Russia
ASF in EE
OIE notif. ASF in Ukraine
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
EC Grant Decision 2015 ASF Progr.
FVO audit on ASF in EE
GF-TADs 3rd meet. (coordination 7 countries)

18. Regional situation 2007 - 2015 (EFSA with OIE data)

19. Another perspective

20. ASF in the North of the EU

21. EU 2014

22. EU 2015

23. EU 2016

24. Tailored to the East of the EU
The EU policy on ASF
Tailored to the East of the EU

25. EU main tools for ASF control
EU fully harmonised veterinary legislation
The specific ASF control Directive
ASF Contingency plans
ASF regionalization
The ASF EU Reference Laboratory – diagnostic manual
The EU co-financing of emergency measures and eradication programmes
Enforcement – FVO audits
The Community Veterinary Emergency Team - CVET
Better training for safer food – BTSF
Scientific advise – EFSA scientific opinions
International cooperation – OIE/FAO GF-TADSs
EU research projects – RTD - AGRI

26. EU co-financing of ASF veterinary measures
Measures eligible for EU financial support:
Sampling (domestic and wild animals)
Tests
Compensation
Slaughtering
Cleaning and disinfection
Other duly justified measures (different in each MS)
Starting in the end of 2015
Selective hunting of female wild boar
Starting in 2016:
Collection of wild boar carcasses

27. EU co-financing of ASF veterinary measuresLT PL LV EE
2013 € € €
€45.000
2014 € € € €
2015 € € € €
2016 € € € € SK HU RO
2014
€27 000 € -
2015 € €
€55 000
2016 € €
€70 000

28. Further Financial Measures
Market support:
2014 pigmeat in Poland and Lithuania
2015 pigmeat private storage aid
2015 temporary exceptional aid to farmers in the livestock sectors

29. Regionalisation for ASF
Commission Implementing Decision of 9 October 2014 (2014/709/EU) Latest update by Commission Implementing Decision of 9 February 2016 (EU) 2016/180

47. FVO - Health and Food audits and analysis
Findings
The implementation in the MS is effective ensuring:
early detection of ASF
prevention spread into domestic pigs in infected area
prevention of spread outside the infected area
application of restrictions of movements (pigs, meat…)
No immediate health risks were identified
Recommendations
Control measures to be maintained at high level including the biosecurity measures on the farm
Use of the official systems for registration and movement to be improved
Ensure the necessary resources for activities related to control and eradication

48. FVO
Audits carried out on implementation of border controls against ASF:
14-15/10/2013 in Estonia
16-17/10/2013 in Latvia
18-21/10/2013 in Lithuania
22-24/10/2013 in Poland
11-12/03/2014 in Estonia
12-14/03/2014 in Latvia
Audits carried out on implementation of animal health controls in relation to ASF:
14-16/04/2014 in Lithuania
9-13/06/2014 in Poland
2-6/03/2015 in Estonia … and Latvia planned for Sept. 2016

49. GF-TADs
Global Framework for the progressive control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF TADs) /Standing Group of Experts on African swine fever in the Baltic and Eastern Europe Region
Objective: strengthen mid-term regional cooperation on ASF
Under the umbrella of the FAO/OIE
Initiative of the European Commission (with financial support)
Meetings in December 2014 and February 2015 of the seven CVOs  next meeting March 2016

50. GF-TADs
Series of GF-TADs expert field visits in the seven countries concerned
30/3 to 3/4/2015 – Lithuania
12-17/04/2015 – Belarus
18-21/05/2015 – Latvia
13-17/07/2015 – Russian Federation
14-18/09/2015 – Ukraine
28/9 to 2/10/2015 – Estonia
12-16/10/2015 – Poland
Further meeting planned for March 2016 in Moscow to analyse the data gathered data and allow the formulation of expert recommendations on ASF disease management

51. BTSF and TAIEX support provided
Both in the EU and in neighbouring countries.
Before and after the appearance of ASF
BTSF
Two workshops in Kiev (2014) and in Vilnius (2015) on ASF targeting a both EU Member States and non-EU countries,
Six sustained training and technical assistance mission in 2014 and 2015, targeted to both official and private veterinarians
TAIEX
General support on animal health
Specific support on ASF
Going on for long before the arrival of ASF into the EU

52. BTSF and TAIEX support provided
28-31/10/ BTSF workshop on ASF in Kiev – focus was on neighbouring countries
22-24/04/ BTSF workshop on ASF in Vilnius – only Member States invited
November 2015 – Sustained training and technical assistance mission (STM) in Poland and Lithuania
December 2015 – STM in Estonia and Latvia
June 2015 – STM in Hungary and Slovakia

53. BTSF and TAIEX support provided
26-30/04/ TAIEX Study visit - Ukrainian experts in Spain
10-14/01/ TAIEX Study visit – Belarus experts in Spain
4-5/10/ TAIEX Workshop on ASF in Russia
18-22/06/ TAIEX Study visit - Ukrainian experts in Spain
3-4/09/ TAIEX Workshop on CSF and ASF in Lithuania
11-15/11/ TAIEX Study visit - Ukrainian experts in Spain
27-31/01/ TAIEX Study visit - Ukrainian experts in Czech Rep.
23-24/03/ TAIEX Workshop on biosecurity in Latvia
7-11/12/ TAIEX Study Visit - Ukrainian experts in France

54. Community Veterinary Emergency Team - CVET
Provide on the spot assistance
Field experts
Legal basis Commission Decision 2007/142

55. Community Veterinary Emergency Team - CVET
8-12/08/2010 CVET on ASF in Ukraine
27-31/01/2014 CVET on ASF in Lithuania
25-28/02/2014 CVET on ASF in Poland
1- 4/07/2014 CVET on ASF in Latvia
30/7- 1/ CVET on ASF in Lithuania
11- 15/08/2014 CVET on ASF in Latvia
13-14/10/2014 CVET on ASF in Estonia
18-22/01/2016 CVET on ASF in Romania
22-26/02/2016 CVET on ASF in Moldova

56. EURL for ASF EU Reference Laboratory for ASF (EURL)
Annual performance tests of all EU national reference laboratories (ring trials)
Annual meeting to assess the outcomes and correct deficiencies
Also third countries are invited (e.g. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, USA, Canada)
Essential for maintaining to high standards the EU diagnostic capability

57. Ukraine Belarus Russian Federation Moldova
Summary of specific prevention activities in neighbouring third countries
Ukraine
TAIEX UA experts to EURL 26-30/04/10
CVET 8-12/08/10
TAIEX UA experts to EURL 18-22/06/12
TAIEX UA experts to EURL 11-15/11/13
TAIEX UA experts to CZ 27-31/01/14
BTSF Kiev 28-31/1014
GF-TADS expert support mission 14-18/09/15
TAIEX UA experts to FR 7-11/12/15
Belarus
TAIEX BY experts to EURL /01/11
GFf-TADS plenary 03/12/14
GF-TADS expert support mission 12-17/04/15
Russian Federation
TAIEX workshop 4-5/10/11
GF-TADS expert support mission 13-17/07/15
GF-TADS plenary 14-16/03/16
Moldova
CVET 22-26/02/16

58. Key point: animal by-products
Swill feeding:
Swill is in legislation defined as "catering waste".
Catering waste is in the scope of by-product legislation related to the total prohibition of feeding farmed animals with animal protein.
The only exemption (national rules) is for fur animals.
Total prohibition feeding catering waste from international transport.
Catering waste may be used for biogas or biodiesel production or disposed of as waste.
Carcass disposal in ASF infected area
General prohibition of dispatch of unprocessed entire bodies or parts of porcine animals from the infected area;
Derogation under strict channelling (disinfection, sealed trucks) from infected area to processing plant in non-infected area;
Dispatch of unprocessed game trophies from infected area is prohibited;
collection of bodies of dead feral pigs under ASF eradication plan

59. WTO
In 2014 the Russian Federation issued a ban on exports of pigs, pork and certain other products from all Member States (against OIE standards)
Russia has failed to provide any scientific justification for its actions so far and is therefore breaching the WTO SPS Agreement
The EU applies regionalisation as foreseen by the OIE and based on scientific evidence (EFSA)
On request of the EU, the WTO case EU – Russia (WTO Dispute Settlement case 475) was opened
A Panel procedure is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed in spring 2016

60. The EU science on ASF: recent EFSA scientific opinion

61. EFSA Conclusions related ASF transmission
ASF spreads locally in the wild boar population, independent of outbreaks in domestic pigs
No correlation observed between density of wild boar and the case notifications in an area
Low biosecurity level of backyard farms (including practices such as swill-feeding or feeding of contaminated grass) are the likely source of ASF introduction in farms
No scientific data demonstrating shedding by carriers of ASFV genotype II in the eastern European Union.

62. EFSA Conclusions related to wildboar
Several strategies possible:
Rapid control measures aimed at preventing or removing infectious carcasses in the environment: i) through drastic depopulation of more than 70% or ii) fast carcass removal (not acceptable/not conventional)
Long-term preventive measures through a sustainable reduction of the population size: i) feeding ban and ii) targeted hunting of reproductive females (longer term/wider area)
NEW MANDATE to EFSA for Technical assistance on ASF

63. The EU policy on ASF: next steps

64. Update ASF Strategy to include recent scientific advice
Wild boar management: medium term
Hunting: selective of adult females
Feeding ban: in selected areas
Carcass removal disposal: fast
Human factor: short term
Awareness
No feeding pigs with potentially contaminated grass/feedingstuff
Biosecurity strengthened
Hunter vs farming: behaviour risks

65. EU common hunting strategy
Main strategic points to be applied at least to the areas under restriction and to a wider area (~ 200km further):
Baiting is allowed (non-sustained feeding, limited food only for attracting wild boar for hunting, not exceed 10kg/km2/month).
Sustained feeding is forbidden.
Targeted hunting is encouraged in order to target adult and sub-adult females. The overall hunting bag should be balanced between male and females (50% each).
Hunting practices leading to disruption of population and dispersion avoided
More refined hunting practices to be defined locally depending on environmental and other factors (night hunting…)

66. Review and adapt veterinary rules
Regionalization:
Revise demarcation of zones after summer season when peak is expected
Exit strategy for lifting restrictions (ongoing)
Need for a precautionary approach
Surveillance:
Strengthen surveillance (especially PASSIVE)
Enforcement biosecurity

67. Thank You