Swine fever, Costa: "Stop to restrictions for Sardinia by the end of the year"

"Today's meeting confirms that we are on the right path. The report presented by the Region of Sardinia shows that we are faithfully respecting the road map that we agreed with the Commission in June to end the restrictions by the end of the year. we had made a commitment with the Sardinian community and we are completing it according to the set times ".

This was stated by Undersecretary for Health Andrea Costa , head of the delegation that met the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety in Brussels .

The summit was attended by Giovanni Donato , councilor of the permanent representation of Italy to the EU, Pierdavide Lecchini , general director of animal health and veterinary drugs of the Ministry of Health, Mario Nieddu , regional councilor for health, Giovanni Filippini , director of the institute Zooprophylactic of Sardinia, Francesco Sgarangella , coordinator of the veterinary services of Sardinia for African swine fever.

"I take this opportunity to thank the Sardinia Region, the Zooprophylactic institute and the regional veterinary services for the precious work done - said Costa -. The analyzes and data presented today underline how the territory is definitively emerging from the swine fever emergency . in addition, all the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission for their willingness and willingness to soon reach the end of the restrictions, sharing a strategic plan made up of concrete and progressive recommendations and commitments ”.

"During the meeting - continued Costa - the advances and results achieved by Italy and the Region of Sardinia in the management of African swine fever were recognized. In a delicate moment like the present one, where the spread of the disease is affecting Italy and other countries in Europe, the management of the emergency in Sardinia can represent a virtuous example and a community model to follow ”.

"This is the message - the conclusion - that if common strategies are identified and if shared paths and protocols are followed, excellent results can be achieved and critical issues can be resolved".

(Unioneonline / vl)