Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-30-Speech-3-150"
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"en.20051130.14.3-150"2
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the fresh outbreaks of avian influenza in Asian countries and in some European countries, following the slaughter of millions of birds in Italy and the Netherlands, give ample grounds for more effective preventative measures to be taken, and for appropriate steps to be taken to support Member States in the event of an outbreak. That way, action can be taken promptly and the disease can be isolated and stopped from spreading.
It is crucial, bearing in mind the potential consequences of an epidemic, that preventative action be taken effectively and promptly – albeit without causing public alarm – both here in the EU and in third countries, in particular Asian ones. Avian influenza is a worldwide phenomenon and affects most domesticated birds, yet its distribution is influenced by the relationship between domesticated birds and wild birds, the location of poultry farms, the routes taken by migratory birds and the time of year.
We now know that vigilance and prevention are of the utmost importance, even in the case of low pathogenic viruses, which can mutate into the highly pathogenic strain after circulation for short periods in a poultry population. Furthermore, although it is rare for human beings to be infected, there have nonetheless been outbreaks among the human population in recent years caused by certain avian-influenza viruses, leading to dozens of fatalities in Asia.
For these reasons, and taking account of the opinions of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and the Committee on Budgets, whose rapporteurs, Mr Sturdy and Mr Mulder, I wish to thank, the Committee on Agriculture emphasises the need to strengthen the Commission’s proposal on five crucial points.
Firstly, greater emphasis should be placed on prevention and monitoring, beginning with a survey of risk areas in each country, to head off the potential impact of an avian-influenza epidemic on public health. Secondly, greater Community support is needed to develop research into an oral vaccine to combat the various strains and to promote the use thereof should the need arise; the total cost of vaccines should be borne by the Community. Thirdly, Community support must be given to the Member States to develop a system for monitoring the disease, including laboratory diagnosis and research (particularly into suitable vaccines). Fourthly, measures should be taken involving cooperation and technical support for third countries, in particular Asian ones, in order to enable preventative and screening action to be taken in the countries in which avian influenza originates. Fifthly, aid must be made available to breeders facing a loss of income should the need arise to slaughter birds, the destruction of eggs, the cleaning and disinfection of holdings and equipment, the destruction of contaminated foodstuffs. The EU will partly cover the costs incurred by the Member States.
As far as the Committee on Agriculture is concerned, the amount of financial assistance should total 50% of the costs borne by the Member States, in cases both of high and low pathogenic avian influenza, because if action needs to be taken and animals need to be slaughtered, the losses incurred are the same.
I believe, however, that in this case it is right to increase Community assistance to 60%, in line with my proposal, because if a Member State faces a situation of this nature having taken the necessary prevention measures, it deserves solidarity from the Community, and this may indeed help to prevent the disease from spreading.
I have also tabled a further proposal for which I am seeking your backing, ladies and gentlemen. I feel that social justice will be served if support is granted to poultry breeders whose holdings are affected by the disease, not only in respect of the costs and losses incurred, but also 50% in respect of loss of income until a new holding is up and running; this without of course undermining the workings of the market.
Lastly, I should like to express my gratitude for all the help I received in drawing up this report, and I trust that the Commission and the Council will take due heed of Parliament’s proposals. If so, all possible measures can be taken to prevent and fight any outbreaks, and to ensure that the disease does not spread and affect public health."@en1
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