Bovine Nodular Dermatitis: Milk Surveillance & Italy
- Farmers in the Aosta valley can now utilize milk and products from farms within the surveillance area established to control Bovine Nodular Dermatitis, a notable development for regional...
- Bovine Nodular Dermatitis (BND) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle and water buffalo.
- The recent outbreaks prompting these measures originated in neighboring regions of Savoy and Haute-Savoie in France.
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Aosta Valley Gains Relief from Bovine Nodular Dermatitis Restrictions on Milk Production
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Farmers in the Aosta valley can now utilize milk and products from farms within the surveillance area established to control Bovine Nodular Dermatitis, a notable development for regional dairy production.
Understanding bovine Nodular Dermatitis
Bovine Nodular Dermatitis (BND) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle and water buffalo. It’s caused by the lumpy skin disease virus, and while not typically fatal, it causes significant economic losses due to reduced milk production, weight loss, and damage to hides. The disease is characterized by the development of firm, raised nodules on the animal’s skin. It doesn’t pose a direct threat to human health, but can impact trade and livestock industries.
The recent outbreaks prompting these measures originated in neighboring regions of Savoy and Haute-Savoie in France. As a preventative measure, the aosta Valley established a surveillance area to limit the potential spread of the virus thru animal movement and products of animal origin.
The Initial Restrictions and Their Impact
Initially, the restrictions imposed by EU Regulation 2020/687 placed a block on the handling of milk and raw milk products from farms within the surveillance area. This created significant concern for dairy farmers in the Aosta Valley, notably those specializing in the production of protected designation of origin (PDO) cheeses like Fontina and Toma. These cheeses are integral to the region’s agricultural identity and economy.
The Aosta Valley regional government, recognizing the potential economic hardship, actively engaged with the General Directions of Hygiene and Food safety and the General Directorate of Animal Health of the Ministry of Health. They sought a derogation – an exception to the rule – based on scientific evidence and the specific circumstances of the region.
The Derogation and What It Allows
Following technical-scientific support from the National Reference Center for exotic diseases, the Ministry of Health granted the requested derogation. This allows for the movement of raw milk, even from farms within the surveillance area, for processing into specific types of cheese.
Specifically, the derogation permits the use of raw milk for the production of Fontina DOP and Toma cheeses, provided the milk undergoes a seasoning (aging) process of at least 60 days.This aging process is crucial,as the virus is inactivated during extended aging,ensuring the safety of the final product.
| Cheese Type | Minimum Aging Period |
|---|---|
| Fontina DOP | 60 days |
| toma | 60 days |
No risk to Human Health Confirmed
Authorities have repeatedly emphasized that there is no risk to human health associated with the consumption of milk or dairy products from the affected areas. The restrictions were solely aimed at preventing the further spread of the virus among cattle populations. The 60-day aging requirement provides an additional layer of safety, even though the risk was already considered negligible.