Uruguay bans EU genetic material imports
Image - Johan Doe
Uruguay’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has announced a ban on the import of all genetic material from the European Union, citing concerns over the Schmallenberg Virus (SBV). The ban will hold until such time as it can be demonstrated that SBV cannot be transmitted by genetic material. EU research has acknowledged that “there are risks of vertical transmissions (cow to calf) of the disease as well as with semen or embryos.”
A statement from the Ministry said that “Taking into account the fact that the EU is developing studies relative to epidemiologic characteristics of the disease with the purpose of implementing effective diagnosis and control measures, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has decided to temporary suspend the access to the country, and transit, of genetic material of species susceptible to the Schmallenberg Virus from countries suffering the disease. Only genetic material previous to May first 2011 will be allowed into Uruguay”.
Uruguay's farming sector imported 65,626 shipments of cattle semen from Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Sweden and the UK last year. The majority of the imports were in the form of Holstein Dairy Cattle semen, originating from the Netherlands.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
