Representatives of the European Commission (EC), the FAO and the OIE, together with the national delegates of 8 participating countries attended the SGE LSD4 (only Belarus was absent), at Maison de la Chimie, from 12:30 to 14pm on 23 May 2017. The meeting was also attended by numerous delegates of observer countries in Europe, following an open invitation from the GF-TADs chair, Dr B. Van Goethem.
The main objectives of the SGE ASF7 meeting were for the SGE ASF countries to provide updates on (i) their epidemiological ASF situation; and (ii) preventive and control measures put in place since the SGE ASF6.
The chair of the SGE ASF insisted on the need to implement several of the past SGE ASF Recommendations in view of the summer peak of ASF. A selection of the most important recommendations in that specific context were shared with the participants. Dr Van Goethem called for increased vigilance in countries (RO, HU, SL, CZ) neighbouring infected countries.
The need to exchange country existing awareness campaign / sensitisation material on African Swine Fever, whether targeting public at large (including transporters), hunters and/or farmers was also underlined. Material collected is available in the ASF Depository (will be regularly updated as material is provided).