Government official in Estonia seeks added financial support from the government to address the African swine fever outbreak
The African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Estonia has taken a significant toll on the country's pig farming industry, with nearly 12,000 farm pigs culled this summer causing substantial economic losses for farmers and putting their operations at risk.
In response, the Estonian government is addressing the crisis primarily through substantial funding, strict biosecurity measures, and coordinated culling efforts. This approach reflects the disease's impact on animal health and the agricultural sector.
Funding
The Ministry of Agriculture in Estonia has invested over €3 million to manage ASF response efforts in 2025, focusing on controlling outbreaks, biosecurity enhancements, and supporting affected producers.
Biosecurity Measures
Strict biosecurity lockdowns have been implemented around major commercial pig farms to prevent further spread. These measures include full site access bans lasting up to a month for large producers such as Ekseko (which has 50,000 pigs). Farms are required to maintain rigorous protocols such as vehicle disinfection, downtime between farm visits, disinfectant barriers, and restricting access to forested areas to prevent contact with wild boars, a major ASF reservoir.
Culling and Regulatory Actions
Culling infected and suspected pigs remains the only legally authorized method to control ASF, as the virus can persist in the environment for months to over a year on various surfaces. Since June 2025, more than 25,000 pigs (~10% of the national herd) have been culled with at least seven confirmed farm outbreaks. The authorities call for strict compliance with EU rules on culling to contain the disease, though some protests have temporarily halted culling operations at certain farms.
Humanitarian Aid
The search results and official communications do not indicate any specific humanitarian aid programs for people (such as affected farmers or rural communities) linked to the ASF outbreak. The focus is primarily on animal health, economic protection of farmers, and biosecurity.
Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras is requesting additional government funds to combat ASF in Estonia. Terras has initiated a budget analysis to redirect funds towards ASF prevention efforts and has scheduled a meeting with sector representatives and relevant authorities for Wednesday to discuss solutions.
The crisis requires immediate and coordinated action, according to Terras. Large farm outbreaks of ASF pose a serious threat to the entire agricultural sector and national food security. The funds, from the government's reserve, will be allocated to compensate losses, strengthen biosecurity measures, and preserve wild boar meat for humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Pork is a significant component of the Estonian diet, and the ASF situation is considered a nationwide issue, requiring close cooperation and collective effort from all government agencies. Improving biosecurity on pig farms and in hunting is crucial to prevent further spread of the ASF virus. The crisis is not limited to one ministry or sector but affects the entire nation.
