Press release: EU earmarks €250 million to combat animal diseases and better protect both human and animal health

Aiming to further strengthen the protection of human and animal health, the European Union has earmarked more than €250 million to support programmes to eradicate, control and monitor animal diseases in 2011. Member States endorsed the financial package proposed by the European Commission during today's meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH). The 138 annual or multi-annual programmes, which have been selected for EU funding, will tackle animal diseases that impact both human and animal health. More than half of the total sum will be used to finance programmes to eradicate 8 important animal diseases.