News item | 11-01-2025 | 21:14
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature has decided to introduce new precautionary measures for the veal sector. This concerns a national ban on the removal of veal calves and a ban on visitors. This decision was made after it became clear that calves from Brandenburg, a state in Germany, have been imported to the Netherlands via collection centers elsewhere in Germany in recent weeks. On January 10, it became clear that a number of water buffalos in Brandenburg had become infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). There is currently no reason or suspicion that there is an infection in the Netherlands.
Minister Wiersma of LVVN: “After the worrying news from Germany, I am very vigilant for an infection with foot-and-mouth disease in the Netherlands. There is currently no reason or suspicion that there is an infection in the Netherlands. I hope this remains the case in the near future. An initial investigation has shown that there have been no direct livestock transports from Brandenburg to the Netherlands since December 1. But because we now know that calves from Brandenburg have arrived in the Netherlands via collection centers elsewhere in Germany, I want to be on the safe side as a precaution. I also appreciate that the sector itself has already taken proactive measures. Hopefully we can limit the risk of infection as much as possible. I keep in close contact with the sector and will share it immediately as soon as we have more information from Germany or from experts.”
Disposal ban and visitor ban
The veal sector has informed the ministry and the NVWA that more than 3,600 calves have been transported from Brandenburg to the Netherlands since December 1, via collection centers elsewhere in Germany. These calves are kept on more than 125 veal calf farms spread across the Netherlands. The NVWA is investigating whether these farms are infected with foot-and-mouth disease. To limit the risk of possible spread as much as possible, a national removal ban on veal calves has been introduced. The exception to this is transport to slaughter. This does not pose any risks to food safety. There is also a low risk of spread. These transports must comply with a mandatory hygiene protocol. To minimize the risk of spread via materials, a ban on visitors applies to veal calf farms. Necessary visitors, such as a veterinarian, are allowed provided they adhere to a strict hygiene protocol. These measures apply at least until we know more about the results of the NVWA investigation and the situation in Germany. This is expected to take at least several days.
Further research and risk assessment
In the meantime, the NVWA is also looking at other sensitive animal species and categories, for example pigs and small ruminants such as goats and sheep, that may have had risky contacts. In addition to the veal sector, other sectors have also been asked to report if animals or animal products have recently been imported directly or indirectly from Brandenburg to the Netherlands. In addition, Minister Wiersma has asked the Animal Diseases Expert Group to make a risk assessment as soon as possible. She has also commissioned Wageningen Bioveterinary Research to test the negative samples submitted for bluetongue research for the presence of foot-and-mouth disease. All measures are taken as a precaution.