Czech Republic to Scrap Measures on Border with Slovakia as of Midnight

Prague, 22 May (TASR) - As of midnight, the Czech Republic will scrap checks and stop disinfecting vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes at the border crossings with Slovakia, which it introduced to prevent foot-and-mouth disease crossing into the country, TASR learnt from the Czech State Veterinary Administration on Thursday. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes coming from Slovakia will be able to use any border crossing to enter the Czech Republic again, without the need for disinfection. However, the Czech Republic will continue to carry out random roadside checks away from the border. The Czech State Veterinary Administration stated that the the situation concerning the infection is now developing favourably. The last outbreak of the disease on a cattle farm in Hungary was recorded on 17 April, while in Slovakia it was on 4 April. "Both countries have adopted effective measures to combat the spread of the disease. There is currently no indication that the situation regarding the disease will worsen," stated the authority's spokesman Peter Vorlicek. The Czech Republic is therefore relaxing measures, especially those that restricted trading in certain commodities. As of 18 May, the ban on imports of animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth as well as other commodities from Slovakia and Hungary, which had been effect for more than two months, has no longer been in place. ko/df