( dpa ) - German officials said Monday they were bulldozing through plans to inoculate farm animals against bluetongue disease, which is common in Mediterranean countries and has been spreading north.
The central state of Hesse has placed a binding order for 21 million vaccination doses to be distributed to all 16 states, without waiting for federal regulatory approval for the substance.
Hesse will pay about 17 million euros to the three manufacturers, the state environment minister, Wilhelm Dietzel, said in Wiesbaden.
Federal agriculture official Gerd Mueller said in February Germany expected the vaccine for cattle, sheep and goats to win regulatory approval in May after test animals had been observed for any ill effects.
The viral disease hit 20,479 animals last year.
Bluetongue virus is transferred by midges. The disease is not dangerous to humans, who can eat meat and milk from infected animals without risk, but kills about 20 per cent of the animals it infects.
Berlin will now be pressed to pass an instant clearance for the vaccine in May so that innoculations can proceed.