Spanish farmers are asking for high biosecurity levels against ASF
A petition signed by Miguel Blanco, general secretary of COAG, and Jaume Bernis, head of pig, Fernando Miranda, general secretary of Agriculture, and Valentin Almansa, general director of Animal and Plant Health was sent to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) to present a decalogue of preventive measures on African Swine Fever (ASF).
COAG leaders have recommended the Ministry to use the Spanish interprofessional association Interporc as a tool to coordinate a wide-ranging strategy with the main Autonomous Communities that produce pigs. Also "biosecurity measures and requirements should be maximized in livestock farms, with homogeneous criteria throughout the territory. It is essential to demand 100% compliance with these measures. At present, 30% of farms do not yet have external perimeter fences that prevent the proximity of wild animals in the vicinity.
It is necessary to reinforce biosecurity by improving the cleaning and disinfection of animal transport vehicles when leaving slaughterhouses. These vehicles move throughout the territory, entering the different farms, so the danger of spreading a possible focus is very high," said the document.
The association has identified several vulnerabilities in Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra, and the Basque Country, where border entry controls are considered to be necessary. "It is important to request animal welfare documentation for all trucks entering with piglets and other animals such as calves, especially those from countries positive for ASF. It should be remembered in 2018 1.8 million piglets entered our country and so far this year about 200,000 per month.
There is a need to prevent the entry of food at the borders, especially from destinations from countries with cases of confirmed ASF. Not only in airports, but also in ports and roads, with coordination and/or participation of State security forces and bodies", said the petition.
Besides the decalogue on ASF, COAG leaders have also asked officials to raise the level of prevention in the National Swine Pest Surveillance Program (PPA).
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