This Monday, March 25, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) announced the recognition of Tocantins as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination. The measure, covered by Ordinance No. 665, of March 21, 2024, also included 16 other states and the Federal District. The established guidelines will come into force from May 2 of this year.
With a cattle and buffalo population of more than 11.5 million heads distributed across around 100,000 rural properties, Tocantins celebrates this milestone, information about which was released by the Tocantins Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapec).
In addition to Tocantins, the states of Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Roraima, São Paulo, Sergipe and the Federal District.
The ordinance establishes several guidelines, including a ban on the storage, sale and use of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease, in addition to restricting the entry and incorporation of vaccinated animals in these federation units.
Tocantins began the process to withdraw vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease in 2023. Since then, audits, active surveillance on rural properties and incentives for the declaration of livestock information have been carried out, in addition to continuous guidance for rural producers and entrepreneurs. Currently, a seroepidemiological study is underway to prove the absence of viral circulation.
Tocantins’ next objective is to obtain international recognition from the World Organization for Animal Health (WHO) as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.
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