The EU has committed the equivalent of more than £120 million to support eradication, control and surveillance programmes that aim to eliminate animal diseases and zoonoses, as well as further strengthening the protection of human and animal health.
The new funding pledge, which is designed to draw matched investment by member states, includes an allocation of almost £2m to combat Classical Swine Fever and an extra £5.25m to be used in the fight against African Swine Fever.
“Given the serious impact that animal disease outbreaks can have on human health, and on economy and trade, the allocation of EU co-financing will continue to assist national authorities in putting in place precautionary measures, disease surveillance and eradication programmes, at national and European level,” said an EU statement.
A total of 130 programmes have been selected for funding. Focus areas include:
- Bovine Tuberculosis (€62m);
- Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (€12m);
- Rabies (€26m);
- Salmonellosis (€17m);
- Bovine Brucellosis (€10m);
- Classical Swine Fever (€2.5m);
- Avian Influenza (€2m);
- African Swine Fever (€7m).