The decision to award this status to the Netherlands was discussed last week at EU headquarters in Brussels. Both member states and the European Commission applauded the idea.

Achieving this so-called Arcticle 10 is the end of a long road to get rid of an endemic disease. Before the programme was started that dealt with the disease, there was an annual cost price of €15 million. The vaccination programme also cost the industry money, both collectively and individually – approximately €30 million.

Over the last few years, having an Article 9-status, the programme cost approximately €20 million every year. Soon, however, the rewards will be the following:
• no loss of production
• no additional veterinary costs
• no infections in other animal species
• no vaccination costs
• no certification costs
• lower administrative costs
• no export research 

Prevention will now receive high priority in the Netherlands as the status needs to be maintained.

Related website
• European Commission

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