The Q&A include two new answers regarding the following topics:

• Scope of the BMR: Application of the BMR outside the EU; and
• Transitional provisions: Transitional provisions applicable to third country benchmarks.

The purpose of this document is to be a practical convergence tool used to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of the BMR. It should also help investors and other market participants by providing clarity on the requirements. ESMA will periodically review these Q&A and update them where required.

Sharing best practices in fighting African swine fever is critical to halt the spread of the disease, say EFSA experts. These include early detection methods and rigorous emergency measures.

EFSA experts assisted Baltic countries and Poland in the analysis of epidemiological data collected up until September 2017. The disease is continuing to spread among wild boar. In 2017 two additional EU Member States – the Czech Republic and Romania – reported cases bringing the number of affected Member States to six.

Experts concluded that despite concerted efforts to stop the spread of African swine fever among wild boar, humans have played a critical role in spreading the disease (for example through the disposal of contaminated waste in wild boar habitat).

Next on the agenda

Sofie Dhollander, veterinarian at EFSA, will present the findings of the report on behalf of the working group on African swine fever at a high level conference organised by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic in Prague on 9 November 2017.