About: livestock diseases

Commission: Third countries should meet EU antibiotics requirements on animal exports

Non-EU countries that export animals and animal products to the bloc will have to abide by new rules on veterinary medicines when it comes to the use of antibiotics, according to the European Commission.

EU farmers: Prevention is better than cure for sustainable livestock

Prevention is far better than cure when it comes to animal diseases and creation of sustainable livestock. Vaccination may play a role in reducing the need for antibiotics, but it needs to be accompanied by other "tools", like education and training, farmer representatives and EU politicians have told EURACTIV.

German government poised to tackle growing antibiotic resistance

Germany hopes to slow the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in medicine and agriculture with its new "DART 2020" strategy. But critics have their doubts, saying it does not do enough to curb large-scale use of antibiotics on livestock farms. EURACTIV Germany reports.

EU authorities relax British meat ban

Veterinary experts from the 27 EU member states have unanimously agreed to lift a ban on British meat, milk and live animal exports, imposed since 6 August following an outbreak of the highly infectious foot-and-mouth disease.

Farm ministers agree on new foot-and-mouth directive to control outbreaks

On 12 June, the Agriculture Council reached political agreement on the new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) directive which aims to improve EU measures to control future outbreaks of FMD.

Commission proposes new legislation to control FMD outbreaks

The revised new Directive proposed by the Commission on 18 December aims to improve EU measures to control future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Parliament favours emergency vaccination as a first-choice option

On 17 December, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution by an overwhelming majority that calls for tough new measures to fight future outbreaks of foot and mouth disease.