Foot and Mouth diesease: Protective measures expected to end on May 20

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In all likelihood, the measures to protect against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) will end on May 20. Accordingly, border controls and army assistance missions are to be ended if no further cases occur, as the office of the responsible State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) confirmed an ORF report on Tuesday.

“Farmers are sitting on pins and needles”
However, a spokesperson for the State Secretary told APA that the final decision will not be made until next week. An ORF report confirmed on Tuesday that the minor crossings that were closed to Slovakia and Hungary are to be reopened. The restricted zones will be lifted, and all import bans on meat will be lifted.

After weeks without new cases in neighboring countries, Burgenland’s deputy governor, Anja Haider-Wallner, was “cautiously optimistic”. The planned opening of the small border crossings will make life easier for commuters, provided there are no new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, she said in a statement published by APA. Great caution will also be required in businesses in the coming weeks. “We are lobbying the federal government for regulations that guarantee high safety for farms and animals beyond 20 May,” emphasized Haider-Wallner. Strict hygiene and biosecurity measures will also be necessary in the coming weeks to prevent outbreaks.

FMD: epidemic carpets to be dismantled
The epidemic carpets at the open border crossings in Hohenau an der March (district of Gänserndorf) and Berg (district of Bruck an der Leitha) are to be dismantled, according to a request from the office of Lower Austrian state councillor Susanne Rosenkranz (FPÖ). The army assistance mission, which began on April 14 and was requested by the state until May 20, is to be completed as planned. The 24 minor border crossings closed since April 5 will reopen on May 21. According to ORF, the office of State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) has held out the prospect of lifting the restricted zones. The reason for this is an implementing decision by the European Commission.