Following the crises that took place at the end of the ‘90s
in the animal health care and public veterinary sector (Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy, dioxin, foot and mouth disease, etc.),
in the year 2000 the Directorate General for Health and Consumer
Protection of the European Commission published the so-called
“white paper”, which established priorities (a plan
that includes about a hundred “actions”) in order
to reach a satisfying level of protection of consumers and of
the Community zootechnical patrimony.
For most of these actions, the related legislative acts needed
to reach procedural completion have been issued. Acts have been
issued in sectors which are not yet disciplined, relating to new
scientific discoveries and to potential health emergencies both
in the EU and in the rest of the world (for example, avian influenza).
The priorities of Italian veterinary health care, of the Representation,
and of the Community are:
• Animal health: fight against the spread of avian influenza
in the countries which have already been affected, and prevention
against its possible entry into the territory of the Community.
Fight against the principal diseases that affect animals present
in the Community (classical swine fever, African swine fever,
Newcastle disease, etc.), with special attention to those that
are potentially transmissible to humans (tuberculosis, brucellosis,
salmonellosis, etc.) through the application of eradication plans,
supervision, and monitoring. Eradication of BSE, with relative
recovery of the “free” sanitary status in the Community
territory. Strengthening of controls on the importation of live
animals, including those arriving with travelers. Emphasis on
activity tied to the protection of as yet undisciplined sectors
(breeding of minor species, including poultry), and improvement
of existing regulations (animal transport, butchering, and animal
experimentation).
• Public veterinary health care: completion of the domestic
market, through the harmonization of controls and sanitary guarantees
at the origin. Implementation of regulation acts included in the
recently adopted so-called “hygiene packet”, which
disciplines sanitary regulations to be applied to the entire foodstuffs
line (microbiological criteria, self-control in the establishments
and in the phases of distribution and sale, etc.). Fight against
foodstuffs frauds through the strengthening of controls on the
territory and on products of animal origin from third countries.
Control of the presence of residual chemical, pharmacological,
and polluting substances in foodstuffs.
