On 11 November, the European Commission issued Implementing Regulation no. 2022/2204 with which, in relation to the presence of African swine fever, updates the areas subject to restrictions by graduating them into 3 bands; in the first it inserts the areas at lower risk and in the third those at greater risk.
Sardinia, as Copagri denounces, is included in the third part.
«After the Audit in Sardinia of the European Veterinary Service from 9 to 19 November 2021, the sending to the Region, by this, of the report with which some critical issues were underlined, the counter-arguments of the Department of Health suggested by the Unit of Project and by the Zooprophylactic Institute, from the press releases published by the island press we had learned that the European offices had recognized Sardinia's commitment to remove the last, non-fundamental obstacles in the fight against African swine fever by perfecting the control systems - declares Pietro Tandeddu, regional director of Copagri Sardinia - The latest press releases from President Solinas, together with councilor Nieddu, undersecretary Costa, optimistically remarked on the real possibility that Sardinia, within the year, would be freed from the restrictions for a free movement on European territory of animals and processed products deriving from pigmeat i solane; to date this is not the case and it seems unlikely, unless we are affected by excessive distrust, that the EU Commission will change our band by 31 December ».
«In Sardinia - continues Giuseppe Patteri, new regional president of Copagri - there have been no outbreaks of plague for almost 4 years and it is therefore unreasonable to continue to block the export of pig farming products. Pig farmers have faced enormous sacrifices by investing in the construction of biosafety structures and undergoing periodic checks. The sector has suffered a collapse and the internal need for meat is mainly satisfied through imports. We cannot continue to disappoint producers and give up on the development of a sector that deserves the utmost attention". For these reasons, Copagri hopes that the Regional Council "will intervene again and energetically with the ministry and with it with the European Union to obtain what desired. However, we will not accept partial releases: the virus is absent from all territories, including Barbagia and Ogliastra ».
(Unioneonline/D)