The involvement of the agriculture industry and government in animal disease emergencies and the funding of compensation in western Europe.

In Western Europe, the control and eradication of contagious animal diseases have always been subject to government legislation. In the event of an outbreak, the principal policy is 'stamping-out' (depopulation) of the infected herd. The owner of the herd is usually awarded financial compensation. The authors provide an overview of the involvement of the agriculture industry and government in animal disease emergencies and the funding of compensation in Western Europe. In particular, developments within the European Union are described, as illustrated by a case study in the Netherlands. The economic consequences of a widespread epidemic of classical swine fever (hog cholera) in the Netherlands in 1997 are described. Evaluation of the epidemic demonstrated that special emphasis needs to be placed on factors such as the high-risk period, animal movement, the attitude of farmers towards risk and the structure of compensation. Epidemic disease insurance schemes are considered to be a possible alternative in alleviating certain financial losses caused by disease outbreaks.

[Role of the veterinarian in safeguarding the quality of foods of animal origin (author's transl)]. / Taak van de dierenarts bij de kwaliteitsbewaking van voedingsmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong.

The Minister van Agriculture and Fisheries will adopt policy measures regarding products of animal origin designed to promote the interests of producers and consumers in the fairest possible manner. For the veterinary inspector who has always been closely concerned in the production of these commodities, the result will be that his duties acquire a broader perspective.

[The use of drugs in animal breeding, viewed in the light of the quality of the finished animal product (author's transl)]. / Het gebruik van medicijnen in de dierveredelingssector, gezien in het licht van de kwaliteit van het dierlijke eindprodukt.

In view of the export of foods of animal origin by the Netherlands, it is essential: --to provide guarantees that these finished products shall be free from veterinary drug residues or that any residues shall not be in excess of fixed tolerance levels; --also to adjust legislation concerning the permissibility and use of veterinary drugs and feed additives to factors stimulating the transfer to finished animal products. Adequate methods of investigation will have to be developed; --to perform adequate tests for residues of groups of veterinary drugs on inspecting finished products of animal origin. When these residues are in excess of permissible levels, stock farmers should be prosecuted for possible improper use and the product in question should be condemned; --closely to follow developments in countries to which these products are being exported and to base policies on these developments; --to achieve a high degree of harmonization between legislation concerning veterinary drugs and criteria of investigation.