PRRS, antimicrobial use in farm animals and welfare concerns relating to the slaughter of pregnant livestock are all on the agenda for discussion during a two-day European Food Safety Authority (efsa) meeting, starting in Brussels today.
The meeting, which is a regular plenary session of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW), will debate a number of “scientific opinions” on issues which are have already been investigated by individual working groups.
The agenda includes the following:
- Scientific opinion on Aujeszky’s disease, Enzootic bovine leukosis, bovine viral diarrhoea, infections bovine rhinotracheitis, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, paratuberculosis and Koi herpes virus disease, for the listing and categorisation of animal diseases in the framework of the (EU) Animal Health Law.
- Scientific opinion on animal welfare aspects in respect of the slaughter or killing of pregnant livestock animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses).
- Request for a joint efsa and EMA (European Medicines Agency) scientific opinion on measures to reduce the need to use antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry in the EU and the resulting impacts on food safety.