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An integrated approach to biosecurity on UK cattle and sheep farms; evaluating existing measures for endemic diseases

against exotic threats

Objective 2a)i Description of current voluntary biosecurity initiatives in other European countries Report by M. Hovi & Nick Taylor

Case study: FINLAND

Abbreviations EU European Union

EC European Commission

EELA National Veterinary and Food Research Institute

ETU Animal Health Care Service

ETT Animal Disease Prevention Union

OIE World Organisation for Animal Health

UK United Kingdom

FMD Foot and Mouth Disease

BSE Bovine Spongioform Encephalopathy

Bovine TB Bovine Tuberculosis

EBL Enzootic Bovine Leukosis

IBR Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis

BVD Bovine Viral Diarrhoea

SVD Swine Vesicular Disease

CSF Classical Swine Fever

TGE Transmissable Gastroenteritis

PRRS Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

AR Atrophic Rhinitis

PMWS Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome

SPF Specific Pathogen Free

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Introduction Appendix 1 provides a brief background to the livestock industry of Finland. As EU membership limits statutory biosecurity measures between the member states, voluntary biosecurity initiatives have become important for countries to maintain, if this is desirable, their animal health status. This is particularly important for countries that maintain a health status that is relatively better than in the other member states. Finland and Sweden were in this situation in 1993, when joining the EU. Subsequently, both countries have managed to maintain their good animal health status, partly due to their isolated geographic position, but mainly by the establishment of voluntary industry-led biosecurity activities. This case study focuses on the Animal Disease Prevention Union in Finland.

Animal disease status The current animal health status of Finnish livestock is very good. Newcastle disease (one outbreak in 2005) is the only OIE former List A disease that has been reported in recent years. Most of the contagious cattle and pig diseases, that are endemic and controlled by vaccination in the UK, are not present in Finland. Most notably, the post-weaning, multi-systemic wasting syndrome of pigs has not been reported in Finland, in spite of high prevalence of seroconversion to porcine circovirus. Appendix 2 presents the disease status of livestock in Finland. Table 1 compares the endemic disease situation of pigs and cattle between Finland and the UK.

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Table 1: Cattle and pig disease situation (latest outbreak/ type of outbreak) in Finland and the UK in 2002 (Source: OIE, 2003).

Finland UK

Cattle FMD Last outbreak in1959 1967, 1983, 2001 BSE 2001 (1 case) Annually (513 cases in

2002) Bovine brucellosis Disease free (1960) 1993, 2004,2005 Bovine TB Disease free (1980) Endemic in large areas EBL Disease free (1996) Disease free (1996) IBR Disease free 1994 Endemic

(vaccination widely used) Johne‟s disease Serological evidence but no

cases diagnosed in spite of screening

Endemic

BVD 28 seropositive dairy herds (national bulk milk screening), two seropositive beef herds out of 6,500 screened, no virus secretors (no vaccine use)

Endemic (vaccination widely used)

Enteric salmonella 8 herds under restrictions in 2003, ongoing screening, vaccine use prohibited

Endemic (vaccine use common)

Campylobacteriosis Never reported Endemic Trichomonosis 1952 1991

Pigs SVD Never reported 1982 CSF 1917 2000 Porcine brucellosis Never reported n/k Aujeszky‟s disease Never reported 1989 TGE 1980 Endemic PRRS Never reported Endemic Atrophic rhinitis No cases in past 2 years

(active „eradication‟ programme in place)

Endemic

PMWS Never reported Endemic Enzootic pneumonia Eradicated from 90% of herds Endemic Swine dysentery Eradicated from 90% of herds Endemic Enteric salmonella 4 herds under restriction in

2003, screening ongoing Endemic

Trichinellosis 4 cases in two batches of slaughter pigs in 2002

1977

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Current statutory biosecurity/disease control initiatives The Department of Food and Health of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is the supreme authority responsible for the prevention and monitoring of animal diseases. Provincial veterinary officers carry out duties related to the implementation of legislation in the provinces, and municipal veterinarians and veterinary officers for meat inspection carry out the duties locally. Border inspection veterinarians are responsible for the prevention of animal diseases through veterinary border inspections. The National Veterinary and Food Research Institute (EELA) carries out examinations related to the implementation of the legislation.

Compulsory notification of disease If the owner or keeper of an animal, or a veterinarian other than the municipal veterinarian, suspects an outbreak of an animal disease that is notifiable according to animal disease legislation, he or she must report this to the municipal veterinarian or, failing this, to the provincial veterinary officer, who reports the suspected outbreak to the Department of Food and Health at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Contingency plans for outbreaks of exotic disease The contingency plans for exotic animal diseases such as swine fever were updated in 2003 and sent to the EC for approval. This updating became necessary due to the recent legislative reforms in the EU. The new regulation concerning the control of the bluetongue disease in sheep entered into force on 1 January 2002, regulation on preventing classical swine fever on 1 November 2002 and regulation on the control of African swine fever on 1 July 2003. Finland was also active in the preparation of the new directive concerning the foot-and-mouth disease, which entered into force on 1 July 2004.

Identification of animals Finland follows European Community (EC) legislation concerning the identification and registration of animals. All cattle, pig, sheep and goat farms and laying hen units are included in an official national register. Farms must keep a list of their animals, where bovines are identified individually and pigs, sheep and goats collectively (by groups) based on the changes in the number of animals in the location. Bovines must be identified individually by two ear tags and all movement of animals must be notified to the register within seven days from the movement. Pigs are identified by either tattoos or ear tags showing the farm. Animals must be identified before they are moved from the location where they were born. All movement of pigs must be notified to the register collectively within seven days from the movement. Sheep and goats are identified individually by ear tags by the time they leave the location were they were born.

Disease risk assessment Controls on imports and decisions on other disease control activities are informed by risk assessment. In Finland risk assessment on animal diseases is carried out by the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute (EELA). In 2003 a report was published on the salmonella risk in broiler production and economic impacts of the salmonella control programme. The assessments of salmonella risk in pigmeat production and paratuberculosis risk in suckler cow production were also completed. The risk

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assessments concerning BSE and classical swine fever, salmonella risk assessment of beef and egg production, and risk assessment concerning the use of raw milk containing antimicrobial residues for feed continued. The risk assessment research unit also started the evaluation of the most important monitoring programmes for animal diseases.

Other statutory controls The enforcement of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption (By-Products Regulation) started on 1 May 2003.

Animal welfare legislation Legislation on animal welfare sets out the minimum requirements for the places where animals are kept, for the breeding and rearing conditions, and for the care and treatment of animals. The law sets out the general principles for the humane treatment of animals and minimum requirements for all activities involving animals. Today‟s animal welfare legislation no longer aims solely at preventing unnecessary suffering and cruel treatment, but also at promoting animal health, happiness and general welfare. Requirements concerning animal welfare are laid down in the Act on Animal Welfare (247/1996, as amended 1994/1996, 594/1998, 662/1999 and 891/2001 and 220/2003), Decree on Animal Welfare (396/1996, as amended 402/1998, 425/2000 and 910/2002), Decree on the Transport of Animals (491/1996, as amended 1398/1997 and 955/1998) and Decree on Animal Experimentation (1076/1985, as amended 395/1996). More exact and detailed provisions on requirements for the keeping, care, treatment and handling of animals have been laid down in several decisions and decrees issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry concerning the keeping of different animal species and activities involving animals.

Statutory controls targeted at specific diseases Finland has recognised disease-free status for a number of diseases. Maintenance of this favourable status is supported by controls on imports of animals and animal products and state-organised surveillance for several diseases, largely based on routine serological testing. Table 2 summarises the routine activities carried out to support disease-free status for these diseases (Appendix 2 provides more detail).

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Table 2: Statutory surveillance and other controls to support disease-free status in Finland

Bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus)

Maintaining the disease-free status calls for the testing of all suspected cases of brucellosis and implementation of regular national screening programmes. Dairy herds have been tested annually through screening programmes since 1990 and beef cattle and suckler cows since 1994. All A.I. bulls in the insemination centres and all new bulls coming to the insemination centres and their herds of origin are tested annually.

Bovine tuberculosis Tuberculosis surveillance is mainly based on testing undertaken at meat inspection.

Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL)

The whole of Finland was officially approved as a EBL-free country in 1999. Since 1991 all Finnish dairy herds have been screened annually for leukosis by means of pooled milk samples. Individual blood samples from beef cattle and suckler cows have been tested since 1993.

IBR/IPV (Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis / infectious pustular vulvovaginitis)

Finland is recognised free of IBR/IPV. The first case of the disease was diagnosed in 1990 in a sample survey of dairy herds. A total of six dairy herds were found to be infected. The last positive herd was slaughtered in the summer of 1994. Dairy herds have been tested annually since 1990. Individual blood samples from beef cattle and suckler cow herds have been examined since 1993.

BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)

Testing for BSE of all bovines over 24 months of age subject to emergency slaughtering, testing of samples from dead bovines over 24 months of age and of bovines over 30 months of age subject to normal slaughter, by the rapid tests, is carried out in Finland, in accordance with EC legislation. The feeding of ruminants with imported meat-and-bone meal was banned in 1990. In 1994 the feeding of ruminants with meat-based waste was banned, and from 1995 the feeding of ruminants with mammalian meat-and-bone meal of Finnish origin has also been banned. From the beginning of 2001 the raw materials, transport and production processes of bovine feedingstuffs were strictly separated from all other production, and the use of meat-and-bone meal in the feeding of all animals intended for human consumption was banned.

Ovine brucellosis (Brucella melitensis)

Brucella melitensis-free status can only be maintained if annual antibody testing is carried out. In 2003 a total of 3,361 blood samples originating from 278 sheep flocks and 1,273 blood samples originating from 46 goat flocks were tested serologically.

Lentivirus infections in small ruminants, (ovine Maedi-Visna and CAE in goats)

Maedi-Visna was diagnosed in Finland for the first time in 1981 in imported sheep that were under quarantine. The first comprehensive serological Maedi-Visna and CAE screening programme was carried out in 1994. A Maedi-Visna control programme, based on voluntary participation, was launched in connection with the screening. In 2001 the Maedi-Visna health control programme for sheep and CAE programme for goats became mandatory to all flocks with more than 20 ewes or she-goats. In 2003 all results were negative.

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Table 2, cont.: Statutory surveillance and other controls to support disease-free status in Finland

Scrapie The first case of scrapie in Finland was found 2002 in connection with the national scrapie control programme. Since 1995 slaughter material has been screened for sheep scrapie. Under a Decision on the control of scrapie issued by the Department of Food and Health of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which entered into force in 1997, all flocks with more than 40 ewes or she-goats must participate in the scrapie control programme for farms. The participating farms are inspected at least once a year by the municipal veterinarian. At regular intervals the farms must also send the heads of some over two-year-old sheep or goats for examination. All Finnish farms must report over two-year-old sheep or goats with CNS symptoms. If the animal does not recover, the head of the animal is also sent for examination. A monitoring programme for scrapie based on the EU legislation was started in 2002. Under this programme at least 1,900 sheep or goats of over 18 months which are slaughtered for food must be examined, in addition to 250 animals which die on their own. From the beginning of 2004 only animals which die on their own must be examined, the minimum of 500 sheep and 50 goats per year.

Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies)

Disease-free status is monitored through sero-surveillance using pig blood samples collected from slaughterhouses at random. In addition to this, blood samples from A.I. boars and farms included in the health control programme for pigs are tested.

Porcine brucellosis (Brucella suis)

Brucella suis has never been diagnosed in Finland. Blood samples collected annually from slaughterhouses are also tested for Brucella suis. Blood samples relating to the voluntary health control programme for breeding pig units and mandatory (statutory) health control programme concerning centres for rearing A.I. boars are examined for brucellosis.

TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis) and PRCV (porcine respiratory corona virus)

TGE has not been isolated in Finland since 1981. In 1992 an annual screening programme was launched where random blood samples from breeding sows, breeding boars and fattening pigs are collected from slaughterhouses.

PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome)

PRRS testing is part of both the mandatory (statutory) health monitoring programme of A.I. boar centres and the voluntary health control programme for pig farms.

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Current voluntary biosecurity/disease control initiatives

Development

Association for Animal Disease Prevention (Elaintautien Torjuntayhdistys, ETT) The Association for Animal Disease Prevention (ETT) in Finland was established as a registered association in 1994. Concern about the impact of emerging EU membership in 1995 on the already then good animal health status in Finland was the driving force behind the establishment of the Association. The concerns focused, in particular, on potential changes in the official controls on imports of animal feed and live animals. A meeting organized by producer and processor organizations concluded that voluntary measures for disease control and handling of risk imports was needed. The ETT was established, with a mission statement to “maintain and promote production animal health and to ensure the safety of food of animal origin by controlling the import of animals and animal feed in order to manage disease risks”.

Uptake The actual membership of ETT is based on processor organizations. A total of 14 dairy companies, nine slaughter/meat processing and packing companies and eight egg packers are members, covering an estimated 90% of each product area in Finland (personal communication; Pirjo Kortesmaki, MD, ETT). Producer organizations, advisory bodies, veterinary organization, feed companies, pharmaceutical companies and research and academic institutes working in the animal health area act as supporting members. The annual budget of the association was €250,000 in 2002. This was covered by the membership fees collected from the processor organizations.

Suitability While the ETT has detailed, species-specific codes of practice for cattle, pigs and poultry, these all reflect the 10 „golden rules‟ or codes of conduct of the Association, which have to be followed by all producers who sell to member buyers and processors or want access to livestock insurance cover. These rules are all concordant with the principles of good biosecurity and preventive medicine, as follows:

1. Purchase of animals Importers of production animals inform the association of an import at least 30 days beforehand. This makes it possible for the ETT to arrange quarantines and health check-ups of the purchased animals both in the country of origin and in Finland. There are also codes of practice for the purchase of animals within the country (Specific ETT Health Certificates).

2. Sale of animals There are codes of practice for the sale of animals from farm to farm or to slaughterhouse.

3. Animal feed The Association maintains a „positive list‟ of feed suppliers, published in several farmers‟ magazines. Only suppliers who voluntarily control (salmonella) the animal feeds and raw materials imported by them in compliance with specified requirements are approved on the positive list. Animal feed suppliers are also required to implement approved internal control programmes and hygienic standards have been specified for all stages of transport and storage. Livestock

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producers selling to ETT members have to purchase their feed from the companies on the „positive list‟.

4. Visitors Producers have to follow a code of practice on how to keep infectious diseases from entering the herd with farmers themselves or with essential visitors, such as veterinarians, AI-technicians or slaughter-house employees etc..

5. Travelling abroad and foreign visitors Farmers who visit production animal farms abroad are advised to keep out of production animal units back home for 48 hours after the visit to a foreign unit. The clothes and shoes used on a farm visit abroad may not enter the home farm barn and they have to be washed or heat treated (in the sauna).

6. Other domestic animals and pests Rats, mice and birds are kept out of barns and feed stores. Dog and cat populations should be limited.

7. Lowering the infection pressure Keeping the general hygiene at a good level diminishes the infection pressure and, thereby, the risk for infectious disease outbreaks. The density of animals has to be kept at a reasonable level, and all in all out procedures must be practiced, when possible.

8. Immunity Developing the management systems, feeding and environment helps animal to maintain immunity at high level and improve animal welfare.

9. Health care Farmers must join a national regular health care / management system by signing an agreement with their veterinarian. This agreement includes regular veterinary visits, audits, documentation and a health care plan. With regular health care it is possible to maintain optimal production, to notice exceptional situations early, to get more information from farm/herd level and to add transparency.

10. Attitude, motivation and co-operation Right attitude and cooperation are the most important tools in maintaining good health status and in ensuring quality.

Operational Mechanisms

In practice, the voluntary disease control measures operate by the following procedure: the ETT members (buyers and processors) are duty-bound, by the association rules, to set up agreements with their producers to follow the ETT codes of practice and to allow monitoring of its activities by the Association. For instance, a producer undertakes to produce meat from animals that are born in Finland or follows the ETT supervision for imported animals. The ETT employs three full-time veterinarians and an agricultural specialist who co-ordinate the various activities. The objectives and activities of the Association are:

to attain good coverage of the livestock industry in Finland (95%); - according to the MD of ETT, Pirjo Kortesniemi, the coverage is above 90%

currently (September 2005);

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to encourage full commitment by farmers and stakeholders to the mission statement of the Association;

to draw up rules/codes for the management of animal feed imports and disease risks (see below);

to draw up instructions for the import of animals, semen, embryos and supervise this (see below);

to develop procedures for animal sales between farms;

to draw up concrete instruction for individual farms for the management of disease risks; - this work involves mainly dealing with disease outbreaks and/or disease

eradication on farms when an outbreak has been reported (e.g. Johne‟s disease, BVD or salmonella); the work is carried out in collaboration with the local vet; in most cases, the Association pays for this work, particularly when dealing with zoonoses, like salmonella);

to maintain a positive list of feed companies; - the ETT, together with the animal feed suppliers, publishes a „positive list‟ of

animal feed suppliers since 1995. Only suppliers who implement voluntary control of imported feed stuffs and raw materials can join the list. The voluntary control involves testing all imported materials for Salmonella (a risk assessment exercise suggested that salmonella was the only real threat from feed-related exports) and keeping them in quarantine until clear test results are available. The feed suppliers are also required to implement approved internal control programmes and hygiene standards, including transport and storage systems.

to promote domestic and international co-operation in animal disease control;

the co-ordination of the National Animal Health Service initiative (see below) with the National Veterinary and Food institute; and

to maintain and develop national health classification system for piggeries (see below) and national pig health monitoring.

National Animal Health Care service initiative (Elainten Terveydenhuolto, ETU)

National Animal Health Care initiative, launched in 2004, is a joint initiative between the ETT and with the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute (EELA). The aim of this initiative is to establish health planning and evidence-based health services on all livestock farms in Finland. This work is, in effect, an extension of the pig health schemes into the other livestock species sectors. ETT is currently establishing a database for cattle. This work focuses more clearly on general health promotion and health planning rather than the control of contagious diseases but will support other ETT activities.

Animal health care scheme for milk, beef, pig meat, egg and poultry meat production In 2003, national objectives concerning the animal health care scheme for milk, beef, pig meat, egg and poultry meat production were adopted in cooperation between the authorities and the relevant sectors. The requirements for farms included in the programme were also decided. The purpose of the requirements and the whole

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programme is to prevent animal diseases and increase the welfare of animals on farms and, through this, to reduce the use of veterinary medicines and further improve the quality of foodstuffs derived from animals. The programme also aims at improving the profitability of farms and the whole food sector.

Health classification of Finnish piggeries In the pig sector the introduction of the new scheme has proceeded to a stage where an agreement was reached on the discontinuation of the old health classifications at slaughterhouses, harmonisation of new classifications and monitoring on the national level as of 1 January 2004. Finnish piggeries are now classified into two categories according to their health status:

1. Health Class (National Level) 2. Basic Class (Legal Level)

Basic Class piggeries need only to follow EU and national laws. Therefore, the other name used for it is Legal Level. Because Health Class piggeries form the majority (over 80 %) of Finnish piggeries, the other name used for them is National Level. Health Class pigs are transported separately from Basic Class pigs, which prevents spreading infectious swine diseases. Annual savings for health classification (because of prevented swine diseases) have been estimated to be between six and twelve million euros per year. The better price (about eleven euros per pig) paid for Health Class feeder pigs has tempted almost all feeder pig producers to join the Health Class. Major slaughterhouse companies ceased handling other than Health Class feeder pigs from the beginning of 2004. The Animal Health Care Service (ETU), consisting of two employees, under the Association for Animal Disease Prevention (ETT) is responsible for health classification administration. A data management system was set up for the national monitoring of pig farms which join the new health care scheme. All herds accepted to Health Class are registered to a National Health Classification Register. The register is accessible via the internet (https://www.etu-palvelut.net). The register combines the information from different sources, proving that the farm fulfils the Health Class demands. Basic Class piggeries are allowed to register to the National Health Register, if they want, but it is not mandatory.

Health Class requirements Health Class piggeries must prove that they are free from mange, enzootic pneumonia, progressive atrophic rhinitis, swine dysentery and salmonella. Thus, health classified piggeries in Finland have similar health status to SPF-piggeries (Specific Pathogen Free) in the other countries. The Health (National) Class demands include:

The owner of the piggery and his veterinarian have a written Health Care Contract, which entails a viable health programme, involving constant veterinary supervision.

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The piggery has a written Health Care Plan, which must be renewed at least once a year.

According to the contract the veterinarian visits the farm frequently (at least four times a year or once per batch in batch production).

The production fulfils the laws and regulations (animal welfare, medicines, etc.) of both EU and Finland. The veterinarian verifies this at the farm visit.

The farm follows the directions of the Animal Disease Prevention Union (ETT) in importing animals, sperm, embryos, and feeds.

A farrowing unit must prove that it is free of swine enzootic pneumonia by taking colostrums samples (30 + 15 + 15, half year intervals).

A farrowing unit must take faeces samples (faeces from ten pens mixed to two combined samples) to prove its freedom of salmonella.

A farrowing unit is free (no clinical signs) of swine dysentery, atrophic rhinitis and mange. No medications to control these diseases are allowed.

Erysipelas vaccinations are carried out twice a year.

Frequent anthelmintic treatments for sows and piglets.

Finishing unit buys health classified feeder pigs only.

Additional voluntary health control programme for pigs The programme must be implemented on farms which provide trial groups for test stations. The infectious diseases covered by the voluntary health control programme for pig farms are: enzootic pneumonia, atrophic rhinitis, dysentery, Actinobacillus pleuroneumoniae infection, Clostridium perfringens type C infection, salmonellosis, brucellosis and scab. Pig farms are also tested for Aujeszky‟s disease, SVD, PRRS, swine influenza, TGE/PRCV and classical swine fever. The reports by the provincial veterinary officers showed that in 2003 a total of 108 farms participated in the voluntary health control programme. In 2003 no salmonellosis was diagnosed on farms included in the health control programme for pigs.

Health monitoring of Finnish poultry

Health monitoring for poultry, i.e. laying hens and broilers, introduced in 1989 was designed mainly for farms engaged in chick production. The objective of the programme was to monitor the effectiveness of vaccinations and the health status of participating farms. Today the health monitoring programme comprises the antibody testing for Gumboro disease, avian encephalomyelitis (AE), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae infection, avian infectious bronchitis (IB), avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and blue wing disease (CAA). There have been no cases of avian infectious bronchitis (IB) or avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in Finland. M. synoviae antibodies are occasionally found in mother hens. Under the health monitoring programme for turkeys, antibody testing is carried out for Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae, M. meleagridis and ART (=TRT/SHS).

Voluntary Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) control programme

The voluntary BVD control programme launched in Finland in 1994 continued in 2003. Through national bulk milk sampling, 28 herds were found to have antibodies against the

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BVD virus in 2003, of which none were positive for the first time. In the BVD testing of beef cattle and suckler cow herds, two antibody-positive samples were found among the total of 6,753 individual blood samples tested. The positive samples came from two different herds. Bovines excreting the virus were not found.

Promotional Mechanisms Rules have to be followed by all producers who sell to ETT member buyers and processors or want access to livestock insurance cover. An important motivating factor for producers to follow the ETT codes of conduct in disease prevention are the animal health insurances. Majority of pig producers and a large proportion of the beef producers have livestock insurances that cover losses caused by contagious diseases. In order to keep the insurance premiums low or, indeed, to get insurance cover for livestock, the producers have to abide by the ETT codes. ETT has had a substantial involvement in the design of livestock insurances in Finland.

Summary/discussion Finland had a relatively good animal health situation, established with the help of the geographic isolation, fairly strict official import control and certain non-tariff barriers before the EU membership. Opening up of the borders to free trade in livestock, livestock products and feed/feed products on joining the EU, prompted the food industry to establish voluntary control measures. This was done promptly by forming the ETT that has, in practice, taken over the control of both external and internal animal movement by setting codes of practice and offering practical help in adhering to these codes (e.g. organization and facilitation of live animal imports; facilitation of intra-farm trade in animals). The main motivation for producers to adhere to the codes arises from two directions: 1) the food industry, who are members of ETT, prioritise producers who adhere to codes, and; 2) the livestock insurance industry, who collaborate closely with the ETT, require adherence to the codes, as a condition for offering reasonably-priced insurance. According to the Managing Director of the (ETT), Pirjo Kortesniemi, the current good animal health status of livestock in Finland is attributable to the following factors:

Strict import controls and legislation pre-EU membership established a favourable situation;

Finland has some geographical advantages in being isolated from dense livestock populations in Central Europe (in spite the long land border with Russia);

Livestock holdings are small and there are no dense concentrations of livestock populations;

There are no live livestock markets and no through-traffic with imported/exported livestock;

There has been a strong policy inclination to eradicate contagious diseases, whenever they have been detected (with state support and organisation);

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National, regional and farm level disease eradication has been actively carried out; and

There has been an active collaboration by all stakeholders to implement voluntary import controls, risk management measures and farm level biosecurity.

While the situation in Finland is markedly different from the one in the UK, there are some take home messages that are widely applicable:

establishment of non-tariff barriers within the EU is only possible if it is done via voluntary schemes, such as ETT;

the food industry (dairies, slaughter houses, meat industry) needs to be seriously motivated in controlling targeted diseases, such as salmonellosis, in order to create a situation where infected premises are disadvantaged;

discrimination against infected premises appears to have brought about a growth in livestock insurance, which in turn has created another opportunity to put pressure on producers to adhere to codes of conduct;

the pig health classification scheme is a prime example of the efficacy of financial pressure to improve health situation on pig farms and to minimize drug/antibiotic use (and possible to prevent disease like PMWS by eliminating predisposing factors); according to Pirjo Kortesniemi, the pig herds in the higher classification have been shown to be significantly more profitable (with reduced antibiotic use and increased daily weight gain) than the ones that are still harbouring swine dysentery, scab, atrophic rhinitis and enzootic pneumonia (all eradicated from the higher classification farms);

in Finland, the threat of cheap livestock imports on joining the EU has been a major driving force, initially within the food industry and later amongst producers, in bringing about the voluntary initiatives and also a major change in attitudes (poor biosecurity and poor disease status on farms was now viewed by most buyers and producers as „anti-social‟ behaviour, i.e. putting others at risk and running ones own enterprise poorly). It was felt that this culture change was important for the success of biosecurity initiatives with collective „ownership‟.

It was pointed out by Pirjo Kortesniemi that, while the collaboration with the official animal disease control policy and the veterinary profession has, by and large, been smooth, there have been some problems. Firstly, the State Veterinary Service has not always been willing to recognize the role that ETT has, but this has been eased by the fact that the Finnish SVS has very little operating capacity in the field, where the more heterogeneous municipal veterinary practitioners carry out most of the „official‟ duties. Secondly, the veterinary profession as a whole have not been particularly actively involved in the work of ETT. It is envisaged that this will be overcome with the new National Animal Health Care initiative that will involve practicing veterinarians in health planning activities. Pirjo Kortesniemi also felt that some of the lack of interest among the veterinarians was due to veterinary education that, in the past, has focused on curing disease rather than maintaining health. In spite of the marked differences in the animal health status between Finland and the UK, the problems related to preparing veterinary graduates to preventive health care practices appear similar.

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It is also of interest to note that general health planning and health promotion initiatives, typical of quality assurance in the UK, have not emerged in Finland until very recently (2004). Control of contagious diseases, particulary zoonoses, has had a clear priority in production animal health in the past.

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Appendix 1 Livestock industry in Finland

Geography and climate Finland is a Scandinavian republic that became a member of the European Union in 1995. Finland is an advanced industrial economy: the metal, engineering and electronics industries account for 50% of export revenues, the forest products industry for 30%. Forests cover three quarters of the country's surface area of 338,000 sq. km (UK area is 245,000 sq km). Other outstanding features of Finland's scenery are some 190,000 lakes. Finland‟s total population is 5.2 million, giving it one of the lowest population densities amongst the EU countries. Finland is situated in northern Europe, between the 60th and 70th parallels of latitude. A quarter of its total area lies north of the Arctic Circle. Finland has land borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia (the last is a land border of approximately 850 miles). The climate is marked by cold winters and warm summers. The mean annual temperature in the southern capital, Helsinki, is 5.3 oC. The highest daytime temperature in southern Finland during the summer occasionally rises to almost 30 oC. During the winter months, particularly in January and February, temperatures of -20 oC are not uncommon.

Livestock production in Finland Agriculture and horticulture is responsible for approximately 1.2% of the value of the GDP in Finland (agriculture, horticulture and the associated food industries are responsible for 11% of the value of the GDP). Some 50% of the farms receiving agricultural subsidies practice crop production as their main production line. Most of these produce cereals (72%), a little over a fifth (22%) cultivate other crops and the rest (6%) practice horticulture. Dairy production is the main production line on almost 30% of the farms. About 7% of the farms specialise in beef production and 6% in pig husbandry. Among the pig farms, 30%, specialize in finishing pigs, 31% in combined production and 39% in piglet production. The shares of poultry farms and organic farms are around 2% each. Of the poultry farms 74% specialise in egg production, 13% in poultry meat production and 13% in breeding. Livestock numbers in Finland in 2002 are presented in Table ??. Table 3: Number of livestock holdings and livestock numbers in Finland in 2002 (Source: TIKE, Helsinki, Finland).

Type of livestock Approximate number of holdings

Approximate number of livestock

Dairy cows 20,600 350,000 Suckler cows 2,500 28,000 Pigs (>50kg) 2,900 405,000 Sheep 2,000 96,000 Goats 550 6,600 Poultry, layers 2,000 3,200,000

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Import of livestock and livestock products

Live animals, embryos, sperm (Source: ETT)

A total of 1,140 head of cattle, mainly beef breeding animals, were brought in to Finland in the past 10 years. The main countries of origin were Sweden, Denmark and Germany, with no live cattle brought in from the UK. Approximately 100,000 portions of semen and some 100 cattle embryos have been brought in in the same period. Pig imports have been very limited in the past 10 years, with only seven batches of breeding boars and a limited amount of fresh sperm being brought in from Norway and Sweden. Additionally, some wild boars have been bought from Sweden and Germany. Poultry imports in the past 10 years have all consisted of fertilized eggs or day-old chicks for the grandparent and great-grandparent stock. These have been sourced from a limited number of routine sources. Individual turkeys, layers and broiler chickens have been brought in as well.

Livestock products (Source: Valimaki, K. (2002) Teurastus ja lihanjalostusteollisuus - toimialaraportti. Toimiala Infomedia, KTM ja TE keskusten Julkaisu)

Finland is relatively self-sufficient in livestock products. The volume of meat imports has grown very slowly (8%), compared to the fast growth in meat exports from Finland in recent years (79%). In 2002, the amount of imported meat and meat products was 24 million kg (~6% of all meat consumed in Finland). The main countries of origin were Denmark, Germany and Belgium for pork, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil for beef and Thailand and France for poultry meat. A large majority of the imported meat goes into processed products.

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18

Appendix 2 Animal diseases in Finland

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) former List A diseases There were no outbreaks of any of the former List A diseases in Finland in 2003. The last outbreak of such a disease in Finland was in 1996, when Newcastle disease was isolated in farmed wild birds. There were no cases of Newcastle disease in poultry, and the outbreak did not affect the non-vaccinating status of Finland for Newcastle disease, granted to Finland by the European Union during the accession negotiations (Commission Decision 94/963/EC of 28 December 1994). Non-vaccinating status can only be maintained if annual serological testing for Newcastle disease antibodies is carried out on all poultry breeding farms. Such testing has been carried out in Finland since 1993, and in 2003 a total of 5,681 individual blood samples were tested. All samples were negative. The incidence of avian influenza in poultry and wild birds was studied in 2003. Altogether 432 samples, 319 of these from wild birds, were examined, all with negative results. The previous outbreak of a so-called former List A disease in Finland was in 1971, and this, too, was Newcastle disease. Table ?? presents the outbreaks of diseases included in former List A of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Finland. Table 4: Outbreaks of OIE former List A diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of former List A disease Last recorded

A010 Foot and mouth disease 1959

A020 Vesicular stomatitis Never

A030 Swine vesicular disease Never

A040 Rinderpest 1877

A050 Peste des petits ruminants Never

A060 Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia 1920

A070 Lumpy skin disease Never

A080 Rift Valley fever Never

A090 Bluetongue Never

A100 Sheep pox and goat pox Never

A110 African horse sickness Never

A120 African swine fever Never

A130 Swine fever 1917

A150 Highly pathogenic avian influenza Never

A160 Newcastle disease 1996

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OIE former List B diseases and other diseases to be officially controlled Most of the former List B diseases do not occur in Finland and, with certain exceptions, those former List B diseases which do occur are rare.

Multiple species diseases Table 5: Outbreaks of OIE former List B multiple species diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of disease Last recorded

B051 Anthrax 1988

B052 Aujeszky‟s disease Never

B053 Echinococcosis 2003

B055 Heartwater Never

B056 Leptospirosis 2003

B057 Q Fever Never

B058 Rabies 1989

B059 Paratuberculosis 2003

B060 Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) Never

B061 Old world screwworm (Chrysomya bezziana) Never

B062 Trichinosis 2003

Notes

Anthrax One cattle herd in 1988.

Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) As a result of its disease-free status, Finland was granted additional guarantees relating to Aujeszky‟s disease under Commission Decision 94/961/EC of 28 December 1994. The additional guarantees were last ratified by Decision 2001/618/EC. In 2003 testing covered a total of 12,425 pig blood samples collected from slaughterhouses at random. Samples collected at different times represented 5,439 farms, which means that, on average, the altogether 3,627 Finnish pig farms were tested 1.5 times. In addition to this, 4,894 blood samples from A.I. boars and farms included in the health control programme for pigs were tested. All samples were negative.

Echinococcosis In 2003 19 reindeer were found to be infected with Echinococcus granulosus (74,778 reindeer were tested). The screening of the lungs of moose was started in 2001 to detect changes caused by the Echinococcus parasite. Of the 670 moose lungs examined in 2003 six showed changes due to Echinococcus. These animals were shot in the north-east of Finland. All the 338,367 bovines, 38,443 sheep and goats, 2,274,923 pigs, 971 horses, 1,679 moose and 592 other wild cervids tested in meat inspections were free from the Echinococcus parasite. Infections due to Echinococcus granulosus seem to occur mainly in reindeer in eastern Lapland, in addition to the six moose and a few wolves, which means that the situation can in this respect be considered good in Finland. No indications of E. multilocularis have been found in these examinations. Most of the imported cats and dogs must be accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinarian showing that they have been medicated against the parasite.

Leptospirosis In 1998 and 1999 a total of 2,720 pig blood samples were collected and 12.9% of these were seropositive for leptospirosis. Of the 1,460 samples examined in 2000 13.6% were positive, 4.2%

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20

of the 780 samples examined in 2001 were positive, 1.5% of the 926 samples examined in 2002 and 0.7% of the 673 samples examined in 2003 were seropositive for leptospirosis. The results from 1999 and 2000 include the results from the monitoring of fattening pigs, which increased the number of positive samples compared to the situation in 2001-2003, when only the statutory testing of research stations and A.I. boars was carried out. The five positive results found in 2003 were of serotype L. Hardjo. The levels of antibodies were low (the highest levels were 1:400) and there is no certainty of their significance. In 2003 314 bovines were examined for leptospira antibodies, and these samples were all negative.

Rabies The last case of rabies of domestic origin in Finland dates back to 16 February 1989. Finland was declared free of rabies at the end of February 1991, i.e. when two years had lapsed from the last confirmed case. In 2003 rabies was found in one imported horse. The animal had been infected in a neighbouring country and imported to Finland during the incubation period. The animal was put down and the contact animals were vaccinated.

In 2003 the brains of 524 animals were examined for rabies. The only positive result was the sample from the horse mentioned above; all other samples were negative.

In order to prevent a new outbreak of rabies, the annual vaccination of wild animals continued in the autumn of 2003. A total of 80,000 baits containing rabies vaccine were dropped from the air along Finland‟s south-east border covering an area 20-30 kilometres wide and 250 kilometres long. The vaccination programme was started in 1988. In 2000 cooperation was started with the Russian veterinary authorities to extend the area treated with vaccines and the collection of samples to the Russian territory. The vaccinations were carried out in May 2003. The vaccination of hunting dogs and working dogs used by public authorities against rabies remains obligatory, and the vaccination of all other dogs and cats is also recommended. A valid rabies vaccination certificate is required when importing dogs and cats aged over three months of age into Finland, with the exception of animals imported from rabies-free countries, i.e. Ireland, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway (except for Spitzenbergen), Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan.

Paratuberculosis Paratuberculosis was found in an imported beef animal in 1992. This was the first case of the disease in Finland since 1920. Since then clinical paratuberculosis has been found on three farms rearing beef cattle, the last case in 1999. In 2000 one symptomless infection was found in a suckler cow of the beef breed. No paratuberculosis has been diagnosed in dairy herds. In 1998-2003 83 suckler cow herds participated in a voluntary monitoring project. In 2003 paratuberculosis was found in one farmed wild ruminant.

Trichinosis (trichinellosis) The meat inspection of pigs, horses and carnivorous game animals (e.g. bear and wild boar) always includes a laboratory examination for trichinae. If trichinae are found, the whole carcass is destroyed. In the 1980s and 1990s trichinae were annually found in the meat inspections for pigs on 0-20 farms. In 2003 trichinosis was diagnosed in two pigs which came from the same farm. Altogether 2,274,923 pigs were examined. Trichinosis was also found in two farmed wild boars which came from the same farm. Altogether 787 wild boars were examined. No trichinae were found in horses (971 animals examined). In 2003 trichinae were also found in 23 lynxes, 26 raccoon dogs, 23 foxes, three bears and five wolves.

Cattle diseases Table 6: Outbreaks of OIE former List B cattle diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of disease Last recorded

B101 Anaplasmosis Never

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21

B102 Babesiosis 2003

B103 Brucellosis (Brucella abortus) 1960

B104 Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (vibriosis) Never

B105 Bovine tuberculosis 1982

B106 Cysticercosis 2002

B107 Dermatophilosis Never

B108 Enzootic bovine leukosis 1996

B109 Haemorrhagic septicaemia Never

B110 IBR/IPV 1994

B111 Theileriosis Never

B112 Trichomonosis 1952

B113 Trypanosomosis Never

B114 Malignant catarrhal fever 2003

B115 BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) 2001

Notes

Babesiosis (Red-water fever) According to the monthly reports submitted by the municipal veterinarians, a total of 42 cases of babesiosis were diagnosed in 2003.

Brucellosis (Brucella abortus) Brucellosis prevention was started in Finland as early as in the 1920s. Because Finland is free of this disease, it has been granted an officially bovine brucellosis-free status (Commission Decision 94/960/EC of 28 December 1994, last confirmed by Commission Decision 2003/467/EC). Maintaining the disease-free status calls for the testing of all suspected cases of brucellosis and implementation of regular national screening programmes.

Dairy herds have been tested annually through screening programmes since 1990 (Table ??) and beef cattle and suckler cows since 1994 (Table ??). All A.I. bulls in the insemination centres and all new bulls coming to the insemination centres and their herds of origin are tested annually. In 2003 this led to the testing of 1,074 blood samples. All samples were negative. Organ samples of 46 animals and blood samples of 4 animals were tested due to suspected disease (abortion), and these were all negative as well.

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Table 7: Bulk milk survey at dairy farms in 1990-2003. One pooled milk sample per year was taken from each farm. In 1991-2003 the testing covered practically all Finnish dairy farms.

Year Leukosis IBR/IPV Brucellosis BVD

samples positive samples positive samples positive samples positive (0

1990 9 879 4 9 879 5 9 879 0 - (3

- (3

1991 36 899 8 36 899 1 (1

36 899 0 - (3

- (3

1992 37 923 11 37 923 1 (1

37 923 0 5 024 0,80 %

1993 34 115 4 34 115 1 (1

- (3

- (3

34 115 0,96 %

1994 34 169 3 34 169 1 (1

34 169 0 34 169 0,99 %

1995 32 588 1 32 588 0 4 546 0 32 588 0,66 %

1996 30 569 1 (2

30 569 0 3 773 0 30 569 0,37 %

1997 28 577 0 28 577 0 2 944 0 28 577 0,42 %

1998 26 934 0 26 934 0 2 760 0 26 934 0,37 %

1999 24 872 0 24 872 0 3 310 0 24 872 0,36 %

2000 22 698 0 22 698 0 2 208 0 22 698 0,45 %

2001 21 040 0 21 040 0 2 254 0 21 040 0,24 %

2002 19 870 0 19 870 0 3 078 0 19 870 0,29 %

2003 18 519 0 18 519 0 2 810 0 18 159 0,15 %

Table 8: Blood samples from beef cattle and suckler cows in 1993-2003. Since 1995 most samples have been taken at slaughterhouses. Suckler cows were included in 2003.

Year Leukosis IBR/IPV Brucellosis BVD(2

samples positive samples positive samples positive samples positive(0

1993 3 248 0 3 248 0 - (3

- (3

3 248 54 (1

1994 12 764 0 12 764 0 12 764 0 12 764 64 (1

1995 2 544 0 2 544 0 2 544 0 2 544 40

1996 2 839 0 2 839 0 276 0 2 839 24

1997 2 845 0 2 845 0 644 0 2 845 18

1998 2 758 0 2 758 0 368 0 2 758 21

1999 2 920 0 2 920 0 321 0 2 920 24

2000 2 899 0 2 899 0 360 0 2 899 17

2001 2 996 0 2 996 0 367 0 2 996 10

2002 2 816 0 2 816 0 277 0 2 816 7

2003 6 753 0 6 753 0 2760 0 6 753 2

Bovine tuberculosis The last outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in Finland was limited to one cattle herd in 1982. Tuberculosis control started in Finland in the early 20th century. Today it is mainly based on testing undertaken at meat inspection. No positive cases were diagnosed in 2003. All the seven samples from suspected bovines, 60 from pigs and six from zoo animals tested negative for the Mycobacterium bovis bacterium.

Because it is free of the disease, Finland was granted officially bovine tuberculosis -free status in 1994 (Commission Decision 94/959/ EC of 28 December 1994, last confirmed by Commission

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Decision 2003/467/EC). A health control programme for the prevention of tuberculosis in deer was launched in 1997. All the 41 samples examined in 2003 tested negative for the M. bovis bacterium.

Cysticercosis No cases on cysticercosis were found in 2003. In 2002 one case of cysticercosis in bovines was diagnosed (Cysticercus bovis / Taenia saginata), the previous finding before this dates back to 1996.

Enzootic bovine leukosis The prevention of bovine leukosis was started in the 1960s. At the end of 1996 Finland informed the European Commission that, with the exception of Åland, the country was free from leukosis in accordance with Council Directive 64/432/EEC. In 1997 Åland started to monitor its leukosis status, with the objective of reaching a leukosis-free status, and since 13 July 1999 the leukosis-free status has covered Åland as well. This means that the whole of Finland was officially approved as a leukosis-free country in 1999 (Commission Decision 1999/465/EC, last confirmed by Decision 2003/467/EC).

The national leukosis screening programme introduced in 1990 continued in 2003. Since 1991 all Finnish dairy herds have been screened annually for leukosis by means of pooled milk samples (Table ??). Individual blood samples from beef cattle and suckler cows have been tested since 1993 (Table ??).

In addition to the screening programme, 2,296 further blood and milk samples collected from cattle herds relating to suspected leukosis cases, artificial insemination or import were tested in 2003. No leukosis positive samples were found.

IBR/IPV (Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis / infectious pustular vulvovaginitis) As a result of its disease-free status, Finland has been granted additional guarantees relating to IBR/IPV (Commission Decision 94/962/EC of 28 December1994, last confirmed by Decision 2004/215/EC).

The first case of the disease was diagnosed in 1990 in a sample survey of dairy herds. A total of six dairy herds were found to be infected. The last positive herd was slaughtered in the summer of 1994.

Dairy herds have been tested annually since 1990 (Table ??). Individual blood samples from beef cattle and suckler cow herds have been examined since 1993 (Table ??). In addition to the screening programme, 2,313 further milk and blood samples collected in connection with the health control programme of A.I. bulls, suspected disease or import were tested in 2003. All results were negative.

Malignant catarrhal fever Isolated cases of malignant catarrhal fever induced by herpes virus have been diagnosed in Finland. In 2003 one case was diagnosed, the previous case dates back to 1999.

BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) In 2001 considerable amendments were made in the Community legislation concerning the TSEs. As a result of this, the testing for BSE of all bovines over 24 months of age subject to emergency slaughtering, testing of samples from dead bovines over 24 months of age and of bovines over 30 months of age subject to normal slaughter by the rapid tests was started in Finland as well. Finland, Sweden and Austria were granted an exemption, allowing them to derogate from the testing of dead animals in sparsely populated areas. A national centralised collection system for carcasses was started to increase the testing of dead animals in densely populated areas. The only case in Finland so far was found in December 2001. The mandatory testing was immediately extended to cover all cows over 30 months of age subject to normal slaughter.

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In 2003 altogether 131,405 bovines were tested for BSE in Finland. Of these 10,899 were fallen stock or animals that were put down, 8,087 were emergency slaughtered, 4,216 had shown clinical signs of some disease at ante mortem inspection, 108,198 were slaughtered normally and six were suspected due to clinical signs. All results were negative.

The feeding of ruminants with imported meat-and-bone meal was banned in 1990. In 1994 the feeding of ruminants with meat-based waste was banned, and from 1995 the feeding of ruminants with mammalian meat-and-bone meal of Finnish origin has also been banned. From the beginning of 2001 the raw materials, transport and production processes of bovine feedingstuffs were strictly separated from all other production, and the use of meat-and-bone meal in the feeding of all animals intended for human consumption was banned.

Other cattle diseases

Bovine salmonellosis In 2003 restrictive measures were imposed on a total of eight cattle herds as a result of salmonellosis. Salmonellosis was diagnosed on seven new farms. The serotypes found where S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis, S. Kentucky, S. Enteritidis and S. Konstanz. At the end of the year no cattle herds were subject to restrictive measures because of salmonellosis. In these statistics only herds were salmonella has been isolated in the excrement of an animal is considered a salmonella positive herd.

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) The voluntary BVD control programme launched in Finland in 1994 continued in 2003. Through national bulk milk sampling, 28 herds were found to have antibodies against the BVD virus in 2003, of which none were positive for the first time. In the BVD testing of beef cattle and suckler cow herds, two antibody-positive samples were found among the total of 6,753 individual blood samples tested. The positive samples came from two different herds. Bovines excreting the virus were not found.

Viruses causing respiratory tract symptoms in bovines BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus) and corona and parainfluenza viruses occur quite regularly in Finnish cattle and cause respiratory tract infections.

Sheep and goat diseases Table 9: Outbreaks of OIE former List B sheep and goat diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of disease Last recorded

B151 Ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis) Never

B152 Brucella melitensis Never

B153 Caprine arthritis/encephalitis (CAE) Never

B154 Contagious agalactia Never

B155 Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia Never

B156 Enzootic abortion of ewes Never

B157 Ovine pulmonary adenomatosis Never

B158 Nairobi sheep disease Never

B159 Salmonella abortus ovis Never

B160 Scrapie 2002

B161 Maedi-Visna 2002

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Notes

Brucella melitensis Brucella melitensis has never been diagnosed in Finland. Because Finland is free of the disease, it has been granted an officially Brucella melitensis-free status (Commission Decision 94/965/EC of 28 December 1994). A disease-free status can only be maintained if annual antibody testing is carried out. In 2003 a total of 3,361 blood samples originating from 278 sheep flocks and 1,273 blood samples originating from 46 goat flocks were tested serologically. In addition to these, one aborted sheep and six aborted goats were examined. All results were negative.

Lentivirus infections in small ruminants, i.e. ovine Maedi-Visna and CAE in goats Maedi-Visna was diagnosed in Finland for the first time in 1981 in imported sheep that were under quarantine. So far samples originating from 14 different Finnish farms have tested positive, and the animals of these farms have been slaughtered. The first comprehensive serological Maedi-Visna and CAE screening programme was carried out in 1994 (Table ??). A Maedi-Visna control programme, based on voluntary participation, was launched in connection with the screening. In 2001 the Maedi-Visna health control programme for sheep and CAE programme for goats became mandatory to all flocks with more than 20 ewes or she-goats. In 2003 a total of 16,602 sheep blood samples from 307 farms were tested for Maedi-Visna. All results were negative. In 2003 1,278 goat blood samples from 46 farms were tested; all with negative results.

Table 10: Blood samples from sheep and goat flocks in 1994-2003. Samples were taken from animals over one year of age.

Year

Number of sheep floks

Number of goat floks

Total number of samples

No. of positive farms/ No. of positive samples

Number of Brucella melitensis samples studied (=a subsample of Maedi/Visna-samples and almost all CAEV-samples;no)

MaediVisna CAEV B.melitensis Sheep Goat

Floks Samples Floks Samples

1994 545 73 13 708 8/46 0/0 0/0

1995 431 42 10 465 4/12 0/0 0/0 317 5 958 23 52

1996 507 78 14 932 1/8 0/0 0/0 222 6 000 78 814

1997 430 62 14 436 0/0 0/0 0/0 345 3 521 62 341

1998 340 64 11 431 0/0 0/0 0/0 340 10 757 63 619

1999 297 36 10 660 0/0 0/0 0/0 183 6 177 19 168

2000 185 31 7 005 0/0 0/0 0/0 153 2 855 31 236

2001 265 33 13 175 1/2 0/0 0/0 219 2 944 30 627

2002 320 45 17 926 1/1 0/0 0/0 317 4 255 45 1 143

2003 307 46 17 880 0/0 0/0 0/0 278 3 361 46 1 273

Scrapie The first case of scrapie in Finland was found 2002 in connection with the national scrapie control programme. The goat was five years old and it was born in Finland. On the farm concerned there were 44 goats and 6 sheep. The goat showed no other clinical signs except for lowered milk yield. Two other animals from the farm and one from a contact farm tested positive for scrapie when the infected and contact flocks and cohorts were destroyed. Since 1995 slaughter material has been screened for sheep scrapie. Under a Decision on the control of scrapie issued by the Department of Food and Health of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which entered into force in 1997, all flocks with more than 40 ewes or she-goats must participate in the scrapie control programme for farms. The participating farms are inspected at least once a year by the municipal veterinarian. At regular intervals the farms must also send the heads of some over two-year-old sheep or goats for examination. All Finnish farms must report over two-year-old sheep or goats with CNS symptoms. If the animal does not recover, the head of the animal is also sent for

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examination. A monitoring programme for scrapie based on the EU legislation was started in 2002. Under this programme at least 1,900 sheep or goats of over 18 months which are slaughtered for food must be examined, in addition to 250 animals which die on their own. From the beginning of 2004 only animals which die on their own must be examined, the minimum of 500 sheep and 50 goats per year.

Table 11: The number of sheep and goats examined for scrapie in 1995-2003. In 1995-2001 histopathological method and in 2002-2003 the rapid test approved by the Commission was used.

Year Sheeps1)

Positive Goats Positive

1995 345 0 0 0

1996 740 0 0 0

1997 406 0 0 0

1998 556 0 2 0

1999 561 0 0 0

2000 337 0 0 0

2001 483 0 0 0

2002 2 418 0 245 4

2003 2 674 0 250 0

1) Samples include examinations under the scrapie control programme for farms

Pig diseases Table 12: Outbreaks of OIE former List B swine diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of disease Last recorded

B251 Atrophic rhinitis of swine 2001

B252 Porcine cysticercosis (Cysticercus cellulosae) Never

B253 Porcine brucellosis (Brucella suis) Never

B254 TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis) 1981

B256 Enterovirus encephalomyelitis Never

B257 PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome)

Never

Notes

Atrophic rhinitis No cases of atrophic rhinitis were diagnosed in 2001. In 2001 the agent causing atrophic rhinitis, toxin-producing Pasteurella multocida, was isolated in the snout of one pig at a test station. Toxin-producing Pasteurella sp. was isolated in the snout of another test station pig, but the more detailed definition of the species did not succeed. No symptoms of atrophic rhinitis occurred and the source of the infection could not be traced.

Brucellosis (Brucella suis) Brucella suis has never been diagnosed in Finland. In 1999 Finland applied to the European Commission for additional guarantees for brucellosis in pigs, and the application is still pending. Blood samples collected annually from slaughterhouses are also tested for brucella suis. The numbers of animals tested are given in Table ??. Blood samples relating to the voluntary health control programme for breeding pig units and mandatory (statutory) health control programme concerning centres for rearing A.I. boars are examined for brucellosis. In 2003 82 organ samples and 7 serum samples were tested due to suspected disease, but all results were negative.

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TGE (transmissible gastroenteritis) and PRCV (porcine respiratory corona virus) TGE has not been isolated in Finland since 1981, when there were two confirmed cases, both of foreign origin. As a result of its disease-free status, Finland was granted additional guarantees relating to TGE under the EEA Treaty (Decision 68/94/COL of 27 June 1994 by the Supervisory Authority of EFTA), which remained effective after the accession to the European Union.

In 1992 an annual screening programme was launched where random blood samples from breeding sows, breeding boars and fattening pigs are collected from slaughterhouses. The number of samples collected is proportional to the number of animals slaughtered at each slaughterhouse (Table ??). In 2003 all samples tested for TGE were also negative for PRCV, which has never occurred in Finland.

PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) PRRS testing is part of both the mandatory (statutory) health monitoring programme of A.I. boar centres and the voluntary health control programme for pig farms. As a result of a suspected case of PRRS, 259 samples were tested serologically. All the tested samples were negative.

Table ?? shows results of screening blood samples from sows, boars and fattening pigs in 1991-2003. All the results were negative, except for leptospirosis. In 1991-1997 all samples were taken at slaughterhouses. In 1998-2003 blood samples from slaughterhouses were tested for brucellosis, Aujeszky‟s disease and TGE. Other results are from samples relating to health control programmes

Table 13: Screening blood samples from sows, boars and fattening pigs in 1991-2003.

Year Aujeszky TGE CSF Leptospirosis (pos. in brackets)

Swine influenza

Brusel-losis

1)

SVD PRRS

1991 661 - - - - - - -

1992 4 595 4 595 1 300 1 181 - - - -

1993 12 356 122 556 2 600 4 920 4 648 - - -

1994 15 723 15 723 4 102 - - 15 723 - -

1995 8 987 8 987 2 684 - - 10 160 1 678 -

1996 9 061 8 951 2 643 - - 5 544 2 157 2 376

1997 10 534 10 534 2 551 - 306 9 370 2 325 1 306

1998 12 499 12 751 2 913 1 036 (47) 2 593 13 192 2 661 2 593

1999 14 824 14 602 4 762 1448 (75) 4 486 17 433 4 530 4 679

2000 15 461 15 114 5 702 1450 (199) 5 266 15 592 5 275 5 631

2001 17 524 17 336 5 592 780 (33) 5 299 14 068 5 339 5 516

2002 18 284 18 084 5 665 926 (14) 5 302 15 042 5 342 5 605

2003 17 319 17 109 4 897 673 (5) 4 556 14 530 4 564 4 810

Other pig diseases

Pig salmonellosis In 2003 no salmonellosis was diagnosed on farms included in the health control programme for pigs. Salmonella was found in the excrement samples of four other pig farms. The serotypes diagnosed were S. Typhimurium, S. Brandenburg and S. Infantis.

Voluntary health control programme for pigs The programme must be implemented on farms which provide trial groups for test stations. The infectious diseases covered by the voluntary health control programme for pig farms are: enzootic pneumonia, atrophic rhinitis, dysentery, Actinobacillus pleuroneumoniae infection, Clostridium perfringens type C infection, salmonellosis, brucellosis and scab. Pig farms are also tested for Aujeszky‟s disease, SVD, PRRS, swine influenza, TGE/PRCV and classical swine fever. The

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reports by the provincial veterinary officers showed that in 2003 a total of 108 farms participated in the voluntary health control programme.

Relating to the health control programmes, in 2003 4,894 blood samples from boar centres, breeding pig farms and wild boar farms (9 samples from two farms) were tested for Aujeszky‟s disease, 4,897 for classical swine fever, 4,676 for TGE, 4,564 for SVD, 4,810 for PRRS, 4,556 for swine influenza and 4,910 for porcine brucellosis. These figures are also shown in Table ??.

Poultry diseases Table 14: Outbreaks of OIE former List B poultry diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

Name of disease Last recorded

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) 1997

Avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) 1978

Avian tuberculosis 2002

Duck virus hepatitis Never

Duck virus enteritis Never

Fowl cholera 1993

Fowl pox Never

Fowl typhoid (S. Gallinarum) Never

Infectious bursal disease(Gumboro disease) 2003

Marek‟s diseases 2003

Avian mycoplasmosis (M. gallisepticum) 1988

Psittacosis and ornithosis Never

Pullorum disease 1961

Notes

Avian tuberculosis In 2003 no avian tuberculosis was diagnosed in poultry or other birds. In 2002 M. avium was isolated in three peacocks in a zoo.

Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease) The clinical Gumboro disease has not been found in Finland since 1993. The majority of breeding poultry and some of productive poultry are vaccinated against Gumboro disease. In 2003 the disease was diagnosed on one poultry farm.

Marek's disease Even if only few cases of Marek‟s disease were diagnosed at the National Veterinary and Food Research Institute in 2003, it is still the most significant infectious disease of laying hens in Finland. All laying hens and the majority of breeding poultry are vaccinated against the disease.

Other poultry diseases

TRT/SHS (Turkey rhinotracheitis / swollen head syndrome) The incidence of ART (Avian Rhinotracheitis = TRT/SHS) has been monitored with serological testing since 1993, and the results were negative until May 1999, when ART was diagnosed in a breeding broiler house based on symptoms and positive antibody findings. Restrictive orders were imposed on the farm and later on all the birds from the farm were destroyed. In 2003 5,632 blood samples were tested, all the results were negative.

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Based on its disease-free status, Finland was granted additional guarantees relating to ART under the EEA Treaty (Decision 195/94/COL of 30 November 1994 by the Supervisory Authority of EFTA), which remained effective after the accession to the European Union.

Poultry salmonellosis In 2003 there were no cases of salmonellosis in breeding flocks. In 2003 salmonella was found in one flock of young laying hens. The serotype was S. Typhimurium. In broilers salmonellosis was found in five of the total of 3,287 flocks examined. The serotypes are shown in Table ??.

Table 15: Salmonella-positive broiler flocks by serotype in 2003.

S. Livingstone 1

S. Tennessee 1

S. Montevideo 2

S. ssp 1

Total 5

In the case of parent turkeys, salmonella was diagnosed in three flocks in 2003. The serotype was S. Typhimurium. Of the 1,055 turkey flocks examined salmonella was found in six. The serotypes were S. Montevideo (one flock) and S. Typhimurium (five flocks).

Equine diseases Table 16: Outbreaks of OIE former List B equine diseases in Finland. The year shows when the disease was last diagnosed in Finland.

OIE code Name of disease Last recorded

B201 Contagious equine metritis (CEM) 2003

B202 Dourine Never

B203 Epizootic lymphangitis Never

B204 Equine encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE) Never

B205 Equine infectious anaemia 1943

B206 Equine influenza (type A) 1998

B207 Equine piroplasmosis 1998 (imported horse)

B208 Equine rhinopneumonitis/ viral abortion 2003

B209 Glanders 1943

B210 Horse pox Never

B211 Equine viral arteritis 2003

B212 Japanese encephalitis Never

B213 Horse scab 1945

B215 Surra (Trypanosoma evansi) Never

B216 Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis Never