[Consequences for health policy on zoonosis control--national and international actions]

A review is given on the current state of German and European legislation concerning the control of zoonotic diseases. In the past considerable success was achieved when eliminating or reducing zoonosis such as brucellosis or tuberculosis in Germany and in Europe. Today foodborne infections such as salmonellosis or EHEC are dominating. A series of seven different federal laws and their legal regulations are involved in zoonosis control in Germany. In Europe the Council Directive 92/117/EEC, amended by directive 97/22/EU represents a framework for all Member States which have to deliver yearly trend reports on the sources of infections from areas such as human medicine, veterinary medicine and feed production. The data reports are concentrating on salmonellosis, tuberculosis, brucellosis and trichinellosis. Some data are given on the incidence of human salmonellosis in the Member States. There are existing two European reference laboratories for zoonotic diseases and six national labs in Germany. The aim of the new strategy is to fight the infectious agents of zoonotic diseases on farm level already. The most urgent task is to amend and adapt the directive for zoonosis. The necessary actions are under way on European level.