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On 1 May, the new Animal Health Law came into force. It replaces the previous law and it does not only focus on the fighting against diseases, but on their prevention.
The new Animal Health Law contains a series of new rules concerning the prevention against animal diseases and their control, and the improvement of their monitoring. For instance, the number of persons to be held responsible in cases of notifiable diseases increases. The official veterinarians are joined by the animal health supervisors, veterinarians, official assistant agronomists and other experts.
Also, a legal framework is set in order to act in a preventative way, to preserve the animals' health, and to promote, for instance, the automatic controls or compulsory hygiene measures for the carers of the animals.
In the context of prevention, the monitoring of the animal health situation in the whole of the world allows for an early alert of possible dangers as, for instance, the introduction of new epidemic diseases through live animals or animal products.
Also, a "Permanent Committee on veterinary vaccination" is established, and it must work with a vision on the animal health situation in Germany with respect to the use of vaccines.
The review and redesign of the law had become necessary in view of the progressive harmonisation of the laws in the EU, and because the trade of animals, parts of animals or animal products in the EU and with third countries is constantly growing.
Thursday may 1, 2014/ Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft/ Germany.
http://www.bmel.de
