site.btaPM Borissov Confers with EU Health, Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis

PM Borissov Confers with EU Health, Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis


Sofia, September 9 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov conferred Friday with EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis. Andriukaitis is in Bulgaria to participate in a conference dedicated to contagious nodular dermatitis and organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Government information service said.

Bulgaria has coped very well with curbing the disease, Commissioner Andriukaitis underscored. This country can serve as an example for coping with this condition. The Commissioner thanked the Bulgarian authorities for their timely and correct approach.

Borissov assured Andriukaitis that these results come thanks to the prompt reaction of the veterinary authorities and the government which extended 14.5 million leva for vaccines and for compensation of the owners of the animals that were put to sleep.

To date the situation in Bulgaria is completely under control and new centres of the disease have not been registered. "In three months the Bulgarian services have done an excellent job. The first centre was established in the middle of April and the vaccination across the country was completed at the end of July," the Prime Minister said.

The sides united around the position that prevention is the best measure against the spreading of diseases that are dangerous for both animals and humans. Borissov informed Andriukaitis that legislative changes have been drafted which will increase the efficiency of control on food safety. A draft Food Chain Bill has been prepared which provides for relocation of risk management to be directly subordinate to the Minister of Agriculture.