In Sardinia, pigs were shot in the wild: the men of the task force against swine fever took up arms. Actions that had triggered the revolt of numerous territories. Now the turning point has come, after 11 years punctuated by a seemingly endless series of limitations and penalties: the absolute ban on the movement of "pig animals and products from the island" has been lifted. Therefore also of meats and sausages, such as sausages and hams. A provision that "represents a fundamental turning point for the Sardinian livestock sector, as well as the achievement of a goal that the island has been pursuing for some time".

These are the words of the President of the Region, Christian Solinas, pronounced to comment on the outcome of today's vote in Brussels, with which the technical committee represented by the Member States unanimously decided in favor of the European Commission's proposal for the revision of the restrictions imposed on Sardinia to combat the spread of African swine fever, in force since 2011.

«To understand the extent of this result and the possible repercussions on the pig farming sector, it is sufficient to consider that in about 80% of the municipalities on the island it will be possible to resume marketing live animals and meat to the whole world. In 50% of the municipalities this possibility will be feasible without constraints, while in the other cases extra-regional handling will be permitted according to the derogations provided for by European regulations". Census in hand, 84% of Sardinian pig production will be able to reappear on the global market.

The changes approved in Brussels will formally enter into force in January, with the update of the community regulation. In summary, Sardinia will be divided into four zones: white, green, orange and red. The stop on the movement of pigs is still imposed only in the red area: it is an area where there have been outbreaks (not necessarily with sick animals) in the last 12 months. The restriction affects some municipalities in the Ogliastra area and in the Nuoro area . The announced quarterly monitoring could, however, lead to further changes with other "openings".

«In the coming weeks», adds Solinas, «we will define with the Ministry of Health the guidelines on the exceptions to movement for the areas of the territory still subject to restrictions by virtue of the seropositivity recorded in wild boars and domestic pigs in the previous twelve months. But the most important aspect derives from the fact that all these areas, in addition to being able to take advantage of exemptions for the handling of animals and products, will be subject to periodic re-evaluation with a progressive revision of the constraints, up to their complete cancellation on the whole regional territory should the epidemiological framework remain unchanged. Furthermore, in the areas of the so-called 'red zone', where there are currently restrictions on the movement of live animals, we already have 5 million euros ready for compensation to companies».

(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)

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