Successful audit
The meeting of the Control Room for the joint management of thePSA emergency, whose meeting today [October 2, ed.] – held behind closed doors – was also marked by the presence of the Special Commissioner for Swine Fever, Giovanni Filippini, and regional councilors Alessio Mammi (Agriculture, Hunting, and Fishing) and Massimo Fabi (Health Policies), the latter connected via teleconference. The day's presentation – underscoring the importance of this meeting for updating and discussing information – was introduced by Monica Patelli, president of the Province of Piacenza, accompanied by Federico Bonini, councilor responsible for the Swine Fever Emergency, Provincial Police, Hunting, and Fishing. Special Commissioner Filippini himself illustrated the positive outcome of the audit conducted in recent days by the European Commission, which positively assessed the strategies adopted in the region and their effects. Filippini then outlined the state of the spread of ASF and the characteristics of the prevention and control actions underway and to come, illustrating strengths and areas for improvement (for example in surveillance activities with canine units for the search for wild boar carcasses, also strengthening the involvement of hunters) in the various territories.
The efforts of the Province
The Commander of the Local Police of the Province of Piacenza, Matteo Re (along with Davide Marenghi, Police Director of the Corso Garibaldi branch), then detailed the results of the Province's ongoing efforts, also in light of recent Ordinances Nos. 3-4/2025. Regarding the implementation of the Control Plans, which have consistently involved the local ATCs, the key data for the period from the beginning of the year to September 21st in the Piacenza area were released: 1245 interventions were carried out, 2848 volunteer bioregulators were employed, and 328 animals were culled (including depopulation activities carried out within the Park). Five metal mandrioli, three Pig Brig Trap Systems, and 10 net capture devices were also used.
A battle to be won
Councilor Fabi emphasized the need for teamwork (Region, GOT, ATC with hunters, Provinces, Local Health Authorities, technical bodies) to win the battle against ASF through constant monitoring and timely interventions. Giuseppe Diegoli (Head of the Collective Prevention and Public Health Sector, Emilia-Romagna Region) and Marco Maserati (Director of the Public Health Department and Director of Animal Health, Local Health Authority Piacenza) also spoke, agreeing on the need to increase the search for infected material. Councilor Bonini thanked the Provincial Police and all stakeholders present, highlighted the contribution of the ATC and the synergy with bioregulators, and suggested considering exemptions to allow hunters to operate in areas with restrictions different from their residence.
Ad hoc agreement
Numerous interventions by members of the Committee expressed their respective perspectives on various issues: from the multi-party effort to combat ASF to the need for a specific agreement with the ATCs for active carcass searches, from the need to increase overall resources for those carrying out monitoring work to possible exemptions to support teams of bioregulators, from useful incentives to support the valuable resource of volunteers trained as bioregulators to the opportunity for a compensation system for agricultural, livestock, and pig farms exposed to significant risks of direct and indirect damage. Filippini responded to all of the requests, expressing his optimism regarding the economic implications of the incentives requested by various parties and emphasizing the motivation that must accompany the redefinition of certain organizational aspects, and Diegoli, who emphasized the positive aspects of the results achieved thus far.
Team harmony
Councilor Mammi summed up the situation, highlighting the significant work still to be done, given the high price already paid by cured meat producers and pig farms—enterprises that must be protected. He also emphasized the team's close knit approach—from local to national—that has long been working increasingly effectively on the strategies outlined by the PSA Commissioner: "We will deploy all the resources needed to combat PSA, including for the additional monitoring challenges that could ease the current restrictions at European level." Mammi also urged the ATCs to respect the appointment deadlines to avoid the necessary commissioners in other provinces. (Source: Province of Piacenza)
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