Press
Swine fever is rampant in Italy, with serious consequences for farmers. The association fears for the famous Parma ham. And demands the army.
Parma – Italy is fighting swine fever. And this has been going on for years – with little success. The epidemic has been spreading for years, and now meat manufacturers are sounding the alarm. Something has to happen.
African swine fever in Italy – head of the association sounds the alarm: “Must be treated as an emergency”
“Italy cannot get African swine fever (ASF) under control,” stated Agricultural today as early as last November. At that time, the first case was detected in the Emilia-Romagna region, known as the “Stomach of Italy”. Shortly before, the pathogen was discovered for the first time in Italian domestic pigs, on a farm in Lombardy with 166 animals. Swine fever also spread to the Balkans and Austria.
“Let us be clear: what is happening must be treated as an emergency, otherwise we will not get out of this,” said Stefano Fanti, director of the Parma Ham Producers Association La Republica. “The fear of swine fever is great here.”
Swine fever threatens Parma ham: further exports stopped – farmers call for army against wild boars
The problem: The epidemic is getting closer and closer to the regions that make their living from ham production. The European Union only expanded the exclusion zones with a new regulation on April 17th. For the Parma area, this means that around 15 sausage manufacturers are no longer allowed to deliver to Canada. China, Japan and Mexico have been blocking Parma ham imports since the first Italian swine fever case in January 2022.
What to do? “Army against wild boars or all fails,” Fanti said. The industry has been calling for the killing of more than 700,000 wild boars for months. The animals are largely responsible for the spread of swine fever. The ham producers also want money for biosecurity, traps, fences and more hunters. In Germany Special sniffer dogs look for infected wild boars.
ASF pathogens last particularly long in Parma ham
Swine fever is particularly threatening for the Parma region because the pathogen lasts longer in Parma ham than in other foods. According to the German Farmers' Association, swine fever in Parma ham can last for 399 days. For comparison: in salami it is 30 days.
This is also the reason why the USA and Australia only allow the import of products with a ripening period of 400 days. However, trade in sausage products from ASF risk areas is possible within the EU, but is subject to strict requirements. Retailers must ensure that they only place uncontaminated goods on the market.
![A swine fever outbreak hit a company in Emsland in 2022: the animals were slaughtered and neighboring companies had to comply with special requirements.](https://www.merkur.de/assets/images/34/414/34414890-ein-schweinepest-ausbruch-traf-2022-einen-betrieb-im-emsland-die-tiere-wurden-geschlachtet-nachbarbetriebe-mussten-besondere-auflagen-einhalten-272MoN90WcBG.jpg)
Parma Ham Association calls for the eradication of swine fever in Italy
However, Italy is dependent on global exports and the industry fears that the problems could get worse. “Until swine fever is eradicated, it will not be possible to sleep peacefully in the land of ham,” said association leader Fanti. (moe)
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