Vytenis Andriukaitis

The EU's health and food safety commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis, called on Romania on Wednesday to halt the export of 70,000 sheep to the Persian Gulf this month due to the extreme temperatures expected in the area that would make impossible to guarantee that the animals would not suffer in transit.

Agriculture Minister Petre Daea considers that the future European animal health law, which will come into force in April 2021, will create new possibilities to adjust the fight against communicable diseases in animals and humans, playing also an important role in providing new and modern tools in the prevention and control of these diseases.

“The Commission is in contact with the Czech authorities on this matter and expressed its position in a detailed opinion that was transmitted to the Czech authorities,” the EU official said.

The EU on Aug. 11 called an emergency meeting to stop "blaming and shaming" over the insecticide-tainted eggs scandal as it emerged for the first time that the crisis had spread to Asia.

Hong Kong, Switzerland and 15 European Union countries have all received eggs contaminated with the chemical fipronil, which can harm human health, the European Commission said.

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis will arrive at Lesvos island on Thursday to visit health centers and other areas accommodating refugees and migrants.

He will be accompanied by the general secretary of Public Health Yiannis Baskozos.