Bluetongue measures restrict meat supply

The restrictions mean processors could face a shortfall or delay in their supplies of sheep and cows from the affected regions. Bluetongue, a viral disease transmitted by midges, can cause spectacular disease outbreaks. It is non-contagious and affects sheep and other ruminants.

It is not known to affect humans. There is no risk of the disease being contracted or spread through meat or milk, according to the European Commission.

Over the past two weeks, bluetongue has been found in the southern Netherlands, south east Belgium and in parts of Germany on the border with these two countries. Disease control measures were first laid down by the European Commission last week. On Monday, further restrictions were put in place after the bluetongue disease was identified as serotype 8, a type never reported in Europe before.

The 150 km restriction zone covers all of Belgium, most of the Netherlands, areas in the German federal states of North Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hessen, all of Luxembourg, and parts of France bordering the Benelux countries.

In the restriction zone, stringent rules apply to movement of ruminants. All animals on holdings within the zone have to be identified and checked for bluetongue by national authorities. Within the zone, exemptions exist for the transit and domestic slaughter of animals.

Within 20km protection zones established immediately around the outbreak areas, the movement ban for all susceptible animals remains in place.

In Belgium, the virus was confirmed on 11 holdings in sheep in the Liege province, while German authorities reported findings in cattle on eight holdings and in sheep on on holding in the Aachen/Düren area of the region of North Rhein Westphalia .

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, insect-transmitted, viral disease which affects domestic and wild ruminants. It does not affect humans and there is no risk of the disease being contracted or spread through meat or milk.