Bulgaria Lifts FMD Preventative Methods
BULGARIA - The restrictive measures over the foot and mouth disease [FMD] spreading in Bulgaria, adopted in the districts of Varna, Shumen, Yambol, Sliven, Haskovo and Kardzhali, have been lifted, the National Medical Veterinary Service announced.At a sitting in Brussels, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health with the European Commission (EC) decided that only the coastal district of Burgas shall stay in quarantine.
No new FMD samples have tested positive so far.
"If the European Union does not approve 100 per cent financial compensation for the Bulgarian farmers who suffer losses due to the FMD outbreak in the country, the remaining sum will be provided by the national budget," said Minister of Agriculture and Food Miroslav Naydenov. According to European Union regulations, the farmers suffering FMD losses could be granted up to 60 per cent financial compensation.
The Bulgarian minister added [that] only samples taken in the southern village of Kosti tested positive for FMD. According to him, the costs for handling the outbreak could run to about half a million [ refers to the Bulgarian Lev, USD equivalent is 331 565].
A reference laboratory in England determined the FMD virus strain found in Bulgaria. It is typical of Iran and the Asian part of Turkey.
Bulgarian farmers will get up to 60 per cent financial compensation from the European Commission for FMD cases in the country, European Commission spokesman for healthcare Frederic Vincent told FOCUS Radio. He specified that FMD is the disease farmers get the highest compensation for according to the European Union regulations: 60 per cent. He added that no final decision had been made about the size of the compensation for Bulgaria, but the European funds will be 60 per cent at the highest.
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