Support of the hunting world
"Excellent news today: the European Commission's decision to substantially ease restrictions on pig farms in the provinces of Pavia and Lodi in Lombardy, as well as on those in Novara in Piedmont," commented Alessandro Beduschi, Councilor for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry for the Lombardy Region, regarding the lifting of restrictions on areas with outbreaks or cases of ASF (African Swine Fever). "We acted immediately, in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, and the Government Commissioner for ASF, Giovanni Filippini," the councilor recalled, "with measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus, including fencing and biosecurity structures, with the support of the hunting community and, it must be emphasized, with the great willingness to make sacrifices on the part of pig farmers and the entire pig farming sector."
Renewed optimism
Specifically, zone 3, the one with total restrictions, has been completely removed. 109 municipalities have been classified in zone 2, 57 in zone 1, while 72 municipalities previously included in the restricted zones have been moved to free territory. "After this news," continues Councilor Beduschi, "we can say that workers in the sector, and the entire supply chain, can return—and I say finally—to look to the coming months with renewed optimism, leaving behind months of hardship related to the restrictions. We have reached the goal of easing restrictions with synergistic, teamwork. You know that containing and defeating ASF is by no means simple or easy, as demonstrated by cases in countries neighboring us."
Back to normal
"This doesn't mean," he concludes, "that the battle is over. However, it's a great sign that in many affected areas, farmers can rehouse their pigs and thus slowly return to normalcy. It's a great victory for a system that has worked despite moments of great difficulty." (Source: Lombardy Region)
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