0
Following the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar in Brandenburg, the German government followed the recommendations of the EU Veterinary Emergency Team (EUVET) to establish a so-called "white zone" around the central area of the outbreak. This is a strip approximately five kilometers wide that encloses the core area in a semi-circle up to the border with Poland. This zone must be secured with two solid fences: one external and one internal.
As soon as the construction of the two fences is completed, the boar population in the intermediate space, i.e. the "white zone", should be reduced as much as possible. The aim is to achieve a wild boar-free area to minimize the risk of further spread of the ASF virus.
The ASF Ordinance already allows the local officials in the at-risk area to order measures regarding increased hunting of wild boar. However, this rule only allows for intensified hunting and not for a reduction of the wild boar population to (almost) zero. For this purpose, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) has created the necessary authorization to amend the Ordinance due to the risk of disease spread. The modification was announced in the Federal Gazette on November 9 and came into force on November 10. Therefore, Brandenburg will be able to implement the measures to reduce the wild boar population in the "white zone" as of mid-November.
November 10, 2020 / BMEL/ Germany.
https://www.bmel.de/
