16-month wait for FVO report
The FVO has only just issued a similar report on animal health controls in Argentina, Brazil’s South American neighbour.
This final report came 16 months after the FVO’s inspection mission. At that rate, the Brazil report would not be ready until July 2008.
And it could be equally inconclusive.
The FVO found that animal health agencies in Argentina are well organised and committed, but traceability is not yet ensured in all cases. Food and mouth preventative measures are in place, but there was an outbreak in February, 2006. Procedures were effective after the outbreak, but the virus may not have been eliminated, said the FVO.
As in Brazil, Argentina has procedures to guarantee cattle reside 40 days on their last farm, but the certification procedures still need to be improved, said the FVO.
