Foot and Mouth Disease Legislation

Legislation on national and international level plays an important role in the control of Foot and Mouth Disease. Not just with regard to the control measures, once an outbreak occurs, but also with regard to vaccination policy.

Vaccination is very much a trade issue. Organizations like the EU (internal trade) and OIE play an important role in this.

The outbreaks in 2001 in Europe and fear for bioterrorist attacks initiated a thorough review of the disease control policy in the EU. In the new EU legislation of September 2003 emergency vaccination in case of a FMD outbreak received much greater acceptance. For detail see EU Legislation.

For new developments regarding FMD legislation see Links. Websites of the major decision making bodies provide up to date detail on FMD legislation.