Question for written answer E-006260/2018 to the Commission -
Rule 130
Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)
–
(12.12.2018)
Subject:
African swine fever and the wild boar population
African swine fever (ASF) has spread to the European continent with more cases recorded in recent
months. Since July 2017, there have been around 4 000 cases in 11 European countries, including
Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia and Hungary. The disease continues to spread quickly, at more than
200 km/year.
ASF is an enormous threat with devastating impacts on pork exports. Experts say that in the next few
years the virus could even reach Portugal, with potentially catastrophic consequences and effects for
pig farmers and a potential loss of millions of euros for the Portuguese economy.
The disease is mainly spread by wild boars, the populations of which continue to grow at an
uncontrolled rate in Portugal and in Europe. Any ASF control and prevention strategy cannot
disregard this element.
Therefore, in the context of programmes to prevent and combat this disease, what concrete steps and
guidelines have the European health authorities taken to control and screen wild boar populations in
Europe?
Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the European Commission (12.2.2019)
On the basis of scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority
1
it appears that African
Swine Fever (ASF) has spread in the EU through two distinct spread processes: continuous wild boar-
mediated spread through wild boar populations, for which the speed of propagation is notably slower
than for some other infectious diseases; and human-mediated translocations leading to the
establishment of new ASF clusters distant from areas of previous ASF occurrence.
A clear strategic approach to the management of ASF, which includes specific measures for wild
boar, has been agreed at EU level
2
and is continuously updated. Several initiatives have been
promoted to control the spread of the disease like e.g. a specific factsheet addressed to hunters
3
. To
enhance the coordination between animal health and environmental policies the Commission
organised a meeting in December 2018 with the Ministers of Agriculture and of the Environment to
discuss a long-term strategy for wild boar populations in the EU
4
. In addition, a workshop for hunters
was organised by the Commission and the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation on 30
January 2019
5
. The event, which has taken place at one of the EU’s biggest hunting fairs in
Dortmund, Germany, aimed to promote further coordination with hunters.
From the financial perspective, the EU has been providing support since the start of the ASF epidemic
to Member States affected by the disease, or considered to be at risk, in terms of support for wild boar
1
2
3
4
5
Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the European Union (November 2017 until November
2018) (published on 29 November 2018); Scientific opinion on African swine fever in wild boar (published on
11 July 2018); Scientific Report on Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the Baltic States and
Poland (published on 7 November 2017); Simulation-based investigation of ASF spread and control in wildlife
without consideration of human non-compliance to biosecurity (published on 7 November 2017);
Epidemiological analyses on African swine fever in the Baltic countries and Poland (published on 23 March
2017); Scientific opinion on African swine fever (published on 14 July 2015).
https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/animals/docs/ad_control-measures_asf_wrk-doc-sante-2015-
7113.pdf
https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/animals/docs/ad_control-measures_asf_factsheet_hunters_en.pdf
This Ministerial conference took place on 19 December 2018 in Brussels. The speeches, presentations and
the concluding statement from the ministerial conference are available here:
https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animal-diseases/control-measures/asf/conference_en
https://www.face.eu/2019/01/high-level-conference-on-preparing-european-hunters-to-eradicate-african-
swine-fever-asf-30-jan-2019-dortmund/
1172238.EN
PE 632.239