New measures to deal with sheep pox were announced by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.

Specifically, after the confirmation of new cases, on the one hand, of sheep pox in the Regions of Eastern Macedonia, Thrace and Thessaly, on the other hand, of the plague of small ruminants in the Region of Western Greece, with the aim of preventing the spread of epizootics, from today, Friday, November 8, until Friday , November 15, the General Veterinary Directorate of the ministry takes the following measures:

1) The provisions on protection zones, surveillance and further prohibited zones, as defined in Reg. 687/2020, in the Commission’s Executive Decisions as well as in the relevant circulars as amended and in force each time, apply.

2) All movements of goats and sheep within the Greek territory for the purpose of fattening and reproduction are prohibited.

3) Movements of sheep and goats from summer pastures are permitted under the following conditions:

i. Sheep and goats have not been moved from the shipping stable for at least 30 days prior to movement.

ii. A clinical examination is carried out on the animals by official veterinarians, within 24 hours before the movement.

iii. Sheep and goats shall remain in stables at the place of destination for at least 30 days after movement. During this period, clinical surveillance of the animals is carried out by official veterinarians.

iv. After their arrival, the sheep and goats are managed in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to the epizootic disease of small ruminant plague and the epizootic disease of sheep smallpox, in the area of ​​each stable establishment.

4) Movements of sheep and goats for slaughter are permitted, as follows:

a) In disease-free Regions, in slaughterhouses within these Regional Units, where the animals come from, or in the slaughterhouses closest to the specific farm based on a risk analysis by the competent local veterinary authorities.

b) In disease-free Regional Units, Regions that have been found to be disease hotspots, in slaughterhouses within these Regional Units, where the animals come from, or in the slaughterhouses closest to the specific holding based on a risk analysis by the competent local veterinary authorities.

c) Finally, in the remaining Regional Units of the country, the provisions of par. 1 hereof shall apply.

As stated in an announcement by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food, slaughterhouse managers ensure strict adherence to hygiene rules and implementation of cleaning and disinfection programs (premises, equipment and vehicles). In particular, for the Region of Thessaly, the slaughterhouses will start operating on Wednesday.

Movements are carried out with the application of strict biosecurity measures (cleaning, disinfection of wheels of means of transport before loading, before unloading and after unloading animals, personal protection measures for drivers, etc.).

Finally, it is noted that next Friday, November 15, the General Directorate of Veterinary Medicine and the competent veterinary authorities will re-evaluate the epidemiological data of the epizootics and will determine targeted actions to control and eradicate the diseases.