Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/22
By: Emmanuelle Tzeng and Y.F. Low

Paris, May 21 (CNA) The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has approved Taiwan’s application to be listed among the “member countries and zones recognized as free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) with vaccination,” a Taiwan official said Sunday.

Taiwan is expected to receive an official certificate of its FMD status from the OIE on May 25, according to Shih Tai-hua (施泰華), deputy chief of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, who is attending the 85th General Session of the World Assembly of OIE Delegates in Paris.

The listing will apply to Taiwan proper, Penghu and Matsu, Shih said, adding that Taiwan’s efforts on FMD prevention and control have produced results.

He said that next year FMD vaccination will stop in Taiwan and those two island counties and in 2019, Taiwan will apply for listing among the “member countries and zones recognized as free from FMD without vaccination.”    [FULL  STORY]