Positive economic effects on the trade of pigs and products of pigs are directly connected to the obtaining of classical swine fever-free country status and the establishment of sustainable mechanisms of damage control in the event of an outbreak of infectious animal diseases. This is one of the conclusions of the National Conference, which was organized by Veterinary Directorate of Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection in cooperation with European Union Delegation to Serbia on the 8^th of December 2015 in Belgrade.

The Conference presented the results of the two-year project “Capacity building for development of the National Animal Disease Compensation fund and other services”, funded by the European Union.

The focus of the project was to harmonize national legislation with EU standards in the area of the control of infectious animal diseases particularly classical swine fever (CSF) and rabies. Reducing the risk of outbreak of these diseases in domestic animals and wildlife and the prevention of the transmission of the diseases is the main objectives of the strategic plan and its consistent implementation should contribute to the breeding of the healthy animals and to the safety of human and animal health. Contribution to the economy of the country is reflected in the stabilization of the national production of the trade of pigs, in the rehabilitation of trade export of the live pigs and pig’s meat and in the increasing of consumer confidence in food safety and product quality.

With the great support of the international experts, the project recommended possible solutions for the formation of the National Compensation, Fund which should provide guarantees for payments of direct losses that may be incurred during the implementation of disease control measures in the event on an outbreak of infectious animal diseases. The right path for achieving the national goals is shared financial responsibility between the Government of the Republic of Serbia, primary industry and processing industry, as well as the increased responsibility of the farmers for breeding healthy animals.

Veterinary Directorate, with the support of the EU project, had organized training sessions throughout Serbia in order to strengthen the capacity of veterinary services and to establish closer cooperation between veterinarians, inspectors, manufacturers, farmers and Veterinary Directorate. The special focus of the training was the further intensive and comprehensive CSF vaccination, which should be implemented in Serbia next year with the beginning from the 1^st January 2016. The European Union funded the purchase of six million doses of vaccine in order to support the eradication of CSF in Serbia, while the Republic of Serbia will provide funds for free vaccination and to strengthen the capacity for monitoring and inspection control of the implementation of the vaccination and  the trade of pigs. This intensive action is a necessary step towards achieving the ultimate goal – the cessation of vaccination against CSF, which is one of the key requirements for obtaining of CSF-free country status. That would allow free trade of live pigs and products on the market of the European Union and other markets with similar restrictions on the trade of pigs because of the threat of CSF.

The National Conference gathers a large number of international and local experts, who are professionally interested in the area of control and eradication of infectious animal diseases, veterinarians, veterinary inspectors, representatives of primary production and processing industry, representatives of the MAEP and EU Delegation to Serbia.

The project “Capacity building for development of Animal Disease Compensation Fund and other services” is implemented by the Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection with the financial support of the European Union and technical support from the European Consulting Group in Consortium with Tragsatec, IAK, and Ankey.

For more information please visit the following link :http://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/projekti/fond/?lang=cir