Control and eradication of O.I.E. list A diseases--the approach of the European Union to the use of vaccines.

In the last decade the European Union has experienced serious outbreaks of certain O.I.E. list A diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and avian influenza. These diseases have been controlled and eradicated by means of culling and destroying a very large number of animals, which has been very expensive and has raised ethical questions. In accordance with existing rules, emergency vaccination has also been applied under certain circumstances, but its use has often been hampered by the impossibility of distinguishing vaccinated but healthy animals from the infected ones and by its negative impact on the trade of the vaccinated animals and their products. Marker vaccines and suitable accompanying discriminatory tests may overcome these problems and be used as additional eradication tools, where appropriate. Provisions on the use of these tools have already been introduced in the legislation of the European Union.