EU regulations in veterinary practices urged by Baltic and Polish high-ranking veterinary authorities.
EU Mandates Immediate Culling of Pigs in African Swine Fever Outbreaks
In a joint statement, the chief veterinary officers of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia have emphasised the importance of complying with EU rules to stop the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). The European Union (EU) has strict guidelines in place for dealing with ASF outbreaks on farms, which include the immediate culling of all pigs on the affected farm.
The response to ASF in EU member states is based on directly applicable EU legislation. According to the guidelines, the culling is not based on the number of infected animals but on the confirmation of the presence of the ASF virus on the specific premises. This approach is part of a unified EU veterinary response, aligned across member states, to ensure disease containment and maintain trade credibility within and beyond the EU.
Delays or non-compliance with culling and containment measures may result in sanctions or safeguard measures from the European Commission. The European Commission does not tolerate non-compliance with EU rules, as inappropriate eradication practices by a member state can potentially harm the credibility of EU trade.
The culling is accompanied by strict biosecurity measures such as quarantine, movement bans, disinfection, and safe disposal of carcasses (e.g., incineration or rendering) under EU and national rules. Compensation for farmers for culled pigs is typically based on the average value of pork carcasses to mitigate economic losses.
The chiefs of the veterinary services stress the need for immediate action to eradicate ASF. The statement provides reassurance to trading partners within and outside the European Union that adherence to evidence- and risk-based disease prevention, outbreak response, and containment is a priority for the EU.
The guidelines are part of comprehensive ASF control strategies including testing, surveillance, and coordination with wildlife control in some regions. However, the immediate depopulation of infected farms is a mandatory first step under EU regulations.
In summary, the EU mandates that once African swine fever is diagnosed on a farm, all pigs on that farm must be culled promptly to prevent viral spread, supported by complementary biosecurity, surveillance, and compensation measures. The chiefs of the veterinary services call for compliance with EU rules regarding African swine fever to protect the credibility of EU trade and to stop the spread of this dangerous animal disease.
[1] European Commission. (2021). African swine fever. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/diseases/swine/asf_en
[2] European Commission. (2014). Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2014/339 of 11 March 2014 establishing a list of third countries with respect to which specific restrictions apply to the import of certain products of porcine origin. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/diseases/swine/asf_en
[3] European Commission. (2018). Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/184 of 28 February 2018 establishing a list of third countries with respect to which specific restrictions apply to the import of certain products of porcine origin. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/diseases/swine/asf_en
- Given the ongoing issue with African Swine Fever (ASF), it's crucial that EU member states implement prompt medical-conditions checks for pigs, adhering to the guidelines provided by the European Commission.
- To safeguard health-and-wellness standards and maintain international trade credibility, the EU mandates immediate culling of pigs diagnosed with ASF, ensuring implementation of biosecurity measures and proper disposal of carcasses.
