Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) Controls
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) also called ovine rinderpest is a viral disease which affects goats, sheep.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) also called ovine rinderpest is a viral disease, caused by a morbillivirus closely related to rinderpest virus, which affects goats, sheep, and some wild relatives of domesticated small ruminants, as well as camels. It was first reported in Ivory Coast in 1942.
PPR is a notifiable disease in Great Britain.
PPR was detected in July 2024, for the first time in Greece and Romania, both previously officially free of the disease.
Both countries have implemented control measures including zoning, movement restrictions, increased surveillance, and stamping out infected farms.
As of 9 August 2024, Greece has reported 47 outbreaks, with over 2000 cases, while Romania notified 56 outbreaks, with over 5000 cases.
In July 2024, several OVS notes and a Declaration of special measures in accordance with The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011, were issued to notify of outbreaks of PPR in Greece and Romania and the temporary suspension of commercial imports of affected sheep and goat commodities, including:
- Live sheep and goats
- Ovine and caprine germplasm
- Raw milk and milk products derived from ovine and caprine animals
- Fresh and chilled (untreated) hides and skins of sheep and goats
- Untreated wool and hair from ovine and caprine animals.
Bulgaria notified the European Commission on 25 November 2024 of an outbreak of PPR at a sheep holding in Velingrad, in the South-central region of Pazardzhik.
In 17 December 2024, the existing declaration has been amendment by Peste des petits ruminants in the European Union: amendment to declaration of special measures (England) including the new restriction to milk and dairy products derived from ovine and caprine animals from Bulgaria.
To mitigate the risk of PPR, new restrictions are now being implemented on personal imports of certain sheep and goat commodities from the EU single market area.
Personal import from any EU or EFTA country, Greenland or the Faroe Islands of all milk and milk products (including animal by-products and derived products) from sheep and goats is suspended.
Exceptions:
- Sheep/goat milk and dairy products bearing a health/identification mark demonstrating origin in a PPR-free country
- ABPs (derived from sheep or goat milk or milk products) in commercial packaging that contains the name and address of the feed business operator demonstrating origin in a PPR-free country
- ABP (derived from sheep or goat milk or milk products) having a label attached to the packaging, container or vehicle, describing the product and stating to which category of animal by-products it belongs, with the labelling demonstrating origin in a PPR-free country
- PPR free countries means any EU or EFTA country other than Greece, Bulgaria and Romania.
- Personal import from any EU or EFTA country, Greenland or the Faroe Islands of all meat and meat products (including animal by-products and derived products) from sheep and goats is suspended.
Exceptions:
- Sheep/goats meat and meat products bearing a health/identification mark
- ABPs in commercial packaging that contains the name and address of the feed business operator or have a label attached to the packaging, container or vehicle, describing the product and stating to which category of animal by-products it belongs.
The new control, which came into force from 21st August 2024, will reinforce the requirements for bringing sheep and goat products into Great Britain from the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association states. It will no longer be legal to bring sheep and goat products into GB unless they are produced to the EU’s commercial standards. Apart from products from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece which are completely banned from entering GB.
The successful collaboration between the Dover Port Health Authority and Border Force has shown incredible results in restricting people bringing in high-risk PPR products that could carry this virus until further notice.
Everyone can do their bit to help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by simply not bringing pork and other meats onto our shores.