Release No. 0411.97

                                                                 
Statement


                              BY 
                    SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN 
                U.S. DEPARTMENT OF  AGRICULTURE 
                      --November 19, 1997

     The decision by European Union (EU) Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler, to
further delay a vote on the U.S.-EU veterinary equivalence agreement is unjustified and
inconsistent with the bilateral understanding we reached last May.  The United States has fulfilled
its commitment regarding the publication of a proposed regulation that would recognize the
animal health status of the EU on the basis of the data submitted to us by the EU.  This proposed
rule was published in the Federal Register on November 14, 1997 and included all EU countries
and diseases for which adequate data was provided to our Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS).

     In the specific case of hog cholera (classical swine fever), mentioned by Commissioner
Fischler, the EU was notified in early August of the need for additional information.  APHIS also
offered to meet with EU officials at that time to discuss our informational requirements .  Not
only was the offer of a timely meeting not accepted, the Commission has failed to provide the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) any additional country or region-specific information.

     Hog cholera has become a significant problem in Europe over the past year with outbreaks
occurring in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany and Spain.  While we are prepared to
recognize countries and regions as free of hog cholera wherever scientifically justified, and we
remain willing to consider data from the EU,  we are not prepared to put the U.S. livestock
industry at risk to facilitate a vote on the veterinary agreement in the EU Council of Agriculture
Ministers.  Proposals to modify the disease status of any foreign country or region must be based
on adequate data and such data have not been forthcoming from the EU in the case of hog
cholera.

     I remain hopeful that a satisfactory solution to this problem can be found and the
veterinary agreement can be implemented before the end of this year.  This is clearly in the best
interest of our respective livestock industries as well as our overall bilateral relationship.



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