Dr Riitta Heinonen, Deputy Director General, Food and Health Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, informed the OIE that a field simulation exercise on foot and mouth disease (FMD) called "Sorkka 2010", conducted by Lapland and Eastern Finland authorities will take place in a slaughterhouse in Eastern Finland administrative region, from 6 to 7 October 2010.
The overall aim of this exercise is to ensure the preparedness of the authorities to prevent the spread of FMD from a slaughterhouse onwards. The contingency plans of the slaughterhouse and those of the authorities will be tested. The exercise is limited only to authorities and to the slaughterhouse. Farms are not included in this exercise.
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Animal Health Information Department
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
[email protected]