Oak processionary posed a health threat. In April 2018, an outbreak of the caterpillars was reported across Greater London and surrounding areas. The moth is now fairly common in Belgium, notably in the Campine but also elsewhere, with fluctuating population numbers from year to year. In 2007 infestations in the Belgian province of Limburg were so acute that soldiers were deployed to burn them. In the Netherlands, the caterpillars are dealt with by biological pest control. Local authorities use, like in Germany, fluids containing bacteria that are toxic only to the caterpillars. These fluids are sprayed onto the infected trees. Furthermore, an
Animal welfare and rights in the Netherlands is unclear what the implications of this declaration are in practice. As a member of the European Union (EU), beginning in the 1990s Netherlands began to implement EU regulations on animal welfare, including a 1997 measure forbidding pen confinement of veal calves greater than 8 weeks old, a 1998 directive on the five freedoms for farmed animals, and bans on testing cosmetics on animals, barren battery cages, and gestation crates. The Animals Act 2011 prohibits causing an animal pain or injury or damaging its health and welfare without reasonable purpose or in excess of what is reasonable for such purpose.