Publications (3)4.09 Total impact
-
Article: Towards a standardised surveillance for Trichinella in the European Union.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Each year, more than 167 million pigs in the European Union (EU) are tested for Trichinella spp. under the current meat hygiene regulations. This imposes large economic costs on countries, yet the vast majority of these pigs test negative and the public health risk in many countries is therefore considered very low. This work reviewed the current Trichinella status across the EU as well as the national level of monitoring and reporting. It also reviewed which animal species were affected by Trichinella and in which species it should be surveyed. This information was used to design a cost-effective surveillance programme that enables a standardised monitoring approach within the EU. The proposed surveillance programme relies on identifying sub-populations of animals with a distinct risk. Low-risk pigs are finisher pigs that originate from so-called controlled housing. All other pigs are considered high-risk pigs. Controlled housing is identified by the application of a specific list of management and husbandry practices. We suggest that member states (MS) be categorised into three classes based on the confidence that Trichinella can be considered absent, in the specified sub-population of pigs above a specified design prevalence which we set to 1 per million pigs. A simple and transparent method is proposed to estimate this confidence, based on the sensitivity of the surveillance system, taking into account the sensitivity of testing and the design prevalence. The probability of detecting a positive case, if present, must be high (>95 or >99%) to ensure that there is a low or negligible risk of transmission to humans through the food chain. In MS where the probability of a positive pig is demonstrated to be negligible, testing of fattening pigs from a sub-population consisting of pigs from controlled housing can be considered unnecessary. Furthermore, reduced testing of finishers from the sub-population consisting of pigs from non-controlled housing might even be considered, if conducted in conjunction with a proportionate sampling scheme and a risk-based wildlife surveillance programme where applicable. The proposed surveillance programme specifies the required number of samples to be taken and found negative, in a MS. A MS with no data or positive findings will initially be allocated to class 1, in which all pigs should be tested. When a MS is able to demonstrate a 95% or 99% confidence that Trichinella is absent, the MS will be allocated to class 2 or 3, in which the testing requirement is lower than in class 1.Preventive Veterinary Medicine 03/2011; 99(2-4):148-60. · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Towards a standardised surveillance for Trichinella in the European Union
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Each year, more than 167 million pigs in the European Union (EU) are tested for Trichinella spp. under the current meat hygiene regulations. This imposes large economic costs on countries, yet the vast majority of these pigs test negative and the public health risk in many countries is therefore considered very low. This work reviewed the current Trichinella status across the EU as well as the national level of monitoring and reporting. It also reviewed which animal species were affected by Trichinella and in which species it should be surveyed. This information was used to design a cost-effective surveillance programme that enables a standardised monitoring approach within the EU. The proposed surveillance programme relies on identifying sub-populations of animals with a distinct risk. Low-risk pigs are finisher pigs that originate from so-called controlled housing. All other pigs are considered high-risk pigs. Controlled housing is identified by the application of a specific list of management and husbandry practices. We suggest that member states (MS) be categorised into three classes based on the confidence that Trichinella can be considered absent, in the specified sub-population of pigs above a specified design prevalence which we set to 1 per million pigs. A simple and transparent method is proposed to estimate this confidence, based on the sensitivity of the surveillance system, taking into account the sensitivity of testing and the design prevalence. The probability of detecting a positive case, if present, must be high (>95 or >99%) to ensure that there is a low or negligible risk of transmission to humans through the food chain. In MS where the probability of a positive pig is demonstrated to be negligible, testing of fattening pigs from a sub-population consisting of pigs from controlled housing can be considered unnecessary. Furthermore, reduced testing of finishers from the sub-population consisting of pigs from non-controlled housing might even be considered, if conducted in conjunction with a proportionate sampling scheme and a risk-based wildlife surveillance programme where applicable. The proposed surveillance programme specifies the required number of samples to be taken and found negative, in a MS. A MS with no data or positive findings will initially be allocated to class 1, in which all pigs should be tested. When a MS is able to demonstrate a 95% or 99% confidence that Trichinella is absent, the MS will be allocated to class 2 or 3, in which the testing requirement is lower than in class 1.Preventive Veterinary Medicine 01/2011; · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: Institut des Experts-comptables et des Conseils fiscaux (IEC)
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: fiabilité des informations publiées, lesquelles ne pourraient toutefois engager leur responsabilité. Editorial EXPERTISE COMPTABLE ET CORPORATE GOVERNANCE • JOHAN DE LEENHEER p. Interview DIDIER REYNDERS, MINISTRE DES FINANCES p. « Amnistie fiscale : c'est une occasion unique qui ne se reproduira plus ! » L'amnistie fiscale est à la une de l'actualité. C'était donc l'occasion rêvée pour Johan De Leenheer, Président de l'IEC, Guy Stevens, Vice-Président et Eric Steghers, Directeur général, d'interroger le ministre des Finances, Didier Reynders, sur la mise en pratique de cette opération. JEAN-PIERRE MAES, PRÉSIDENT DE LA COMMISSION DES NORMES COMPTABLES p. « Formez-vous et informez-vous ! » Les normes IAS/IFRS ont déjà fait couler beaucoup d'encre. Nous avons évoqué avec Jean-Pierre Maes, Président de la Commission des Normes Comptables (CNC), les enjeux de l'introduction de ces normes dans le système de droit belge. Profession L'EXPERTISE COMPTABLE À LA LUMIÈRE DE LA LOI "CORPORATE GOVERNANCE" p. A l'heure actuelle, une "bonne administration" est considérée en général comme l'une des pierres angulaires de l'entreprise. Depuis les débâcles financières de l'année dernière, en particulier, la recherche de nouvelles structures d'organisation, qui doivent permettre de rendre la confiance aux bailleurs de fonds, est devenue d'une actualité brûlante. En Belgique, c'est par la loi du 2 août 2002, dite de « Corporate Governance » que le législa-teur veut remédier à cette situation de malaise général. Johan De Leenheer, Président de l'IEC, et Rutger Van Boven, Conseiller au Service d'études de l'IEC, proposent un aperçu des principales lignes de force de cette loi, ainsi que des principales pierres d'achoppe-ment qu'entraîne son application. LITTÉRATURE PROFESSIONNELLE p. Tendances LE SALUT PAR L'ÉTHIQUE ? p. L'éthique est à la mode. Notamment suite aux scandales financiers qui ont secoué la plupart des places boursières. Entre ceux qui ne jurent que par ce nouveau mot et ceux qui doutent de son influence réelle, il y a matière à discussion.
