[FMD and international trade relations--conditions and consequences]

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in several member states of the European Union this year made the risks linked to this epidemic pretty clear to the public. In this connection, the possibility of vaccinations was controversially discussed not only among experts. Therefore it has to be taken into consideration that every kind of vaccination leads to economic consequences, which have to be taken into account when making such a decision. It is an illusion assuming that there will be a return to prophylactic vaccination. However in certain situations such emergency vaccination have to be available as an additional measure of control. Because of present decisions of the European Commission any consequences connected therewith are known. Thereby the EU regulations coincide with those of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) and make the extent of restrictions after vaccination calculable. The assessment leads to the conclusion that preventive measures, rapid and successful eradication of FMD outbreaks as well as the option of emergency vaccination have to be followed as an overall conception.