On the 9th, 19th and 27th August the European Commission published three implementing acts about new outbreaks of African swine fever in Europe.
The regions affected by new protection, surveillance and restriction rules include:
- Italy in the region of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont;
- Latvia in the county of Valkas;
- Poland in the region of Zachodniopomorskie , Wielkopolskie, Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie;
- Germany in the States of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz;
- Slovakia in the region of Banskobystrický.
In the context of this outbreak in Italy, the European Commission launched an EUVET (EU Veterinary Emergency Team) mission to Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna at the beginning of July to assess the measures implemented in Italy, the results of which were considered to be negative.
According to the conclusions of the European Commission:
- The EU experts are calling for greater harmonisation by the competent authorities, the development of a strategy and greater coordination between regions and between Italy and its neighbours.
The EU experts also deplore the use of wild boar hunting as the primary means of eradicating the disease. The European Commission points out that hunting should only take place in regions where the disease has not yet spread, and that it is a tool not a solution.