November 9, 2020

 

Belgium seeks ASF-free status

 

 

Belgium has submitted an application late last month to the European Commission and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to regain its African swine fever free status.

 

A decision from the European Commission is expected in the coming weeks.

 

Belgium would implement the following measures if European authorities approve the status:

 

- Surveillance and maintenance of fences installed in infected areas will be maintained;

 

- The search for wild boar carcasses will continue;

 

- The elimination of wild boar will continue in accordance with the decree from the Walloon Government dated July 16, 2020;

 

- Wild boar found dead or shot by hunters will continue to be tested to check for positive cases;

 

The division into infected zones, enhanced observation and surveillance zones will be simplified: the infected zone becomes a surveillance zone and the other two zones are merged to become an observation zone.

 

In all areas (1,106 km2):

 

- Fences will remain until March 31, 2022, when their dismantlement will be evaluated;

 

- Survey and search for wild boar carcasses will last until August 31, 2021;

 

- There will be an adapted plan for hunting wild boar;

 

- There will be a DNA testing of shot wild boar;

 

These measures will be necessary as there is still a possibility that ASF will recur despite a low probability.

 

- AFSACA