40 thousand doses of vaccine against blue tongue, for the prophylaxis of cattle, will be distributed free of charge to breeders by the Sardinia Region which intends, in this way, to support Sardinian companies in the sector. Those who, explains President Christian Solinas, "have suffered economic damage from the medical blockade in place".

The measure will be implemented immediately with the distribution of vaccines to the various Assl.

The intent, adds the councilor for health, Mario Nieddu, is to facilitate companies “who want to move cattle to the continent. A month ago the ministry accepted our requests by removing the restrictions on the export of cattle, in force since 8 September, providing for the possibility of handling the animals negative for the virus following the PCR test. However, from Rome they left the regions of destination the possibility of evaluating whether or not to allow the entry of livestock, an indication that has produced many problems for our breeders. Obstacles that will now be definitively overcome with the vaccination of cattle which can no longer be prevented from exporting ”.

Blue tongue, a disease considered endemic at European level, is now economically regulated by the EU regulation that establishes the criteria for handling it, but does not indicate specific limits to areas with active outbreaks, such as Sardinia. At the moment Italy has not yet implemented the relevant European legislation so on the one hand the indications of the ministry allow other regions to refuse the entry of unvaccinated animals from Sardinia, on the other it is not possible to prevent the importation on national territory of cattle coming from other countries and subjected to PCR only.

“This - underlines the Councilor for Agriculture Gabriella Murgia - translates into further damage for our companies. We currently know that the ministry is working to standardize the rules on all levels, but obviously we hope that this will happen quickly ”.

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