December 1, 2006

 

Ruling to vaccinate pigs dashes Romania's hopes of pork exports

 

 

Romania's hopes of exporting its pigs were dashed as the European Commission handed down a ruling that all its pigs and wild boars would have to be vaccinates to contain the swine fever next year.

 

The move, backed by the Romanian Government, could prove to be a major obstacle to the progress of Romania's pork industry.

 

Swine fever is widespread in Romania, with 600 cases reported in 35 of its 42 counties.

 

The EU has recommended vaccinations in Romania because it considers swine fever is endemic, said Niculae Lazar, director of Animal Health in the National Sanitary - Veterinary Agency (ANSV).

 

Little investment has been made in Romania's pig farms to keep them secure from the disease and pigs could often contract diseases from each other at agricultural fairs.

 

Mihai Visan, executive director of the Romanian Meat Association, calls the vaccinations nothing less than a catastrophe and could stave off investors. Romania's economy is not that strong that small farmers can afford not to grow pigs for extended periods, farmers said.

 

Normally, the EC would ban all export of products that have been vaccinated. However, it has confirmed that Romania will be able to supply some pig meat products to other EU member states from processing units that are compliant with EC hygiene requirements.

 

However, it would not be able to export live pigs, pork and certain processed meat.

 

The Romanian Meat Association wants to export meat from swine fever-free farms or to bring meat in from other countries for processing for export.

 

Swine fever cases increased from only one in 2001 to 1,508 in 2005.

 

With bio-security measures implemented and a better understanding of the disease, Romania has managed to reduce the cases from 1,500 cases in 2005 to 600 this year.

 

If no cases of swine-fever free were reported after 2007, it will be declared swine fever free by June 2008, says Lazar.