Scientific opinion on the specifity of some epizootic risk factors in Bulgaria

With the admission of the Republic of Bulgaria as an EU member state in 2007 the responsibilities of state authorities, including National Veterinary Service, have tremendously increased in order to prevent the country of emerging contagious and exotic diseases. 
As an external border of EU, the Republic of Bulgaria has become an extremely important factor for ensuring favourable epizootic situation within all 27 member states and ensuring also the free movement of goods, people and capital. 
With regard to these new circumstances a scientific analysis is made of the specifics of the main epizootic factors for the country, in order certain adequate measures from Bulgarian and EU institutions to be undertaken. 
The epizootic risks are divided in two main groups – external and internal. 
As external factors are pointed out the globalization of trade in animals and products of animal origin, the increasing import of meat from South American countries, the climate change and the related migration of birds and insects, illegal meat trade, occurrence of new pathogens, etc. 
Within the section of internal factors, a scientific analysis is made of some risks concerning gaps within the legislative framework of the country, risks of organizational and structural, economic, geographic, social, ethnic and religious character. 
Analysis is made also of the epizootic role and importance of some typical for Bulgaria epizootic factors: pooled herds, illegal slaughter of animals at the backyard, especially during religious festivals (Bayram, Christmas, St. George`s Day), social contacts between Balkan countries, removing wire fencing along the Southern border, the role of swine from East Balkan breed, different principles and methods for eradication of some contagious diseases (FMD) in Bulgaria and in the border regions of Turkey.