EFSA Opinion on the risk of rabies introduction into the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Malta as a consequence of abandoning serological tests measuring protective antibodies to rabies

The Animal Health and Welfare Panel (AHAW) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today published an assessment of the risk of rabies introduction into the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Malta as a consequence of abandoning serological tests measuring protective antibodies to rabies. Currently the above Member States are applying additional national requirements during a transitional period which will end in July 2008, consisting mainly of a post-vaccination test[1] in combination with a waiting time before entry. In its scientific evaluation, EFSA’s AHAW Panel has assessed if serological testing could be abandoned without increasing the risk of introducing rabies into these countries. The risk assessment  A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation. was requested by the European Commission in order to assist in the preparation of a report to the European Parliament and Council on the need to maintain the serological testing.

The AHAW Panel recommends the use of authorised rabies vaccines in line with their approved conditions of use as the key requirement for pet movement between all Member States and that further protective measures should be adapted to the appropriate risk level as follows:

a) serological testing does not offer any additional reassurance against rabies for pets coming from any country, including Member States, with a negligible prevalence The proportion of a population found to have a condition. of rabies in the domestic pet population[2] and going to Member States with a negligible prevalence of rabies;

b) vaccination followed by a second injection of vaccine[3] or a serological test will ensure full confidence of protection and eliminate the risk of pets becoming infected when going to Member States with a non-negligible risk of rabies;

c) a waiting time can be used to reduce the risk of transmitting rabies by pets incubating rabies at the time of first vaccination. If a waiting time of more than 100 days is deemed necessary to reduce risk, a second injection of vaccine³ or a serological test could also be applied.

The full text of the report is available on the EFSA website at:

• Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) on a request from the Commission regarding an assessment of the risk of rabies introduction into the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, as a consequence of abandoning the serological test