Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002312/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Stefano Cavedagna (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR)
African swine fever (ASF) is a dynamic disease which requires the list of restricted zones to be constantly updated. It is vital that these restrictions be promptly lifted if an area has successfully countered ASF by means of biosecurity measures, intensive surveillance, culls, carcass removals and the fencing and containment of wild boar and if an appropriate period of time has elapsed without any new outbreaks – a good example being the area east of the A1 motorway in Italy, which is currently classed as a type III restricted zone.
Even that would not be enough to protect the pig farmers who have been affected, particularly as regards the serious indirect damages they are sustaining: in addition to not being able to work, breed pigs or export to foreign markets, they are grappling with unsustainable fixed costs, the depreciation and forced removal of their livestock and speculation by slaughterhouses. The survival of many companies and of the entire Italian PDO sector is at stake.
In the light of the above:
- 1.Will the Commission introduce forms of guarantee and support for the indirect damages suffered by farms located in the restricted zones?
- 2.Will it ensure the prompt reassessment of the restricted status of zones where pig farms have successfully implemented ASF control measures – examples include the operations carried out in the Lazio Region in January 2025 and the measures that have been in place in Langhirano since 28 April 2025 – thus preventing further losses for the farmers concerned?
Submitted: 10.6.2025