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The lessons learnt over the past few years have clearly shown that one of the most important risk factors for the spread of African swine fever (ASF) is the unmanaged population of wild boar in certain Member States. Continuous feeding of wild boar and certain hunting practices are leading to increased and permanent risk to European farming sector and impact on environment. A long-term management of wild boar population and the increased coordination between veterinary services, farmers, forestry management bodies and hunters is therefore needed to efficiently control and prevent the spreading of the disease.
It is within this context that the European Commission is organising a Ministerial Conference on the “Eradication of African swine fever (ASF) in the EU and the long-term management of wild boar populations” on Wednesday 19 December in Brussels, in the margin of the December meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, with a view to enhancing the cooperation between the agricultural and environmental administrations for the proper prevention of this devastating disease.
Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, will welcome ministers and representatives of EU and national institutions, civil society organizations and associations before discussions focus in on the preparedness on ASF and notably on the management of the wild boar population management. The effects of certain hunting practices in the development of wild boar population will be addressed and the latest scientific developments on the disease will be presented by EFSA. Emphasis will be given to the potential long-term management of wild boar population, and to the disease spreading prevention, through better cooperation and coordination among veterinary services, farmers, forestry management bodies, and hunters. The outcome of this event should be common strategic key actions at environmental and agriculture levels for the long term management of wild boar and coordinated actions between farmers, hunters, other stakeholders and official services.
Friday December 14, 2018/ EC/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu
