The situation in Italy is worsening with the constant increase in cases of wild boar carcasses positive for Psa and the latest cases confirmed again recently in some areas of the province of Parma, one of the most suitable areas for pig farming and home to the ham factories of fine Italian delicatessen.
The European Commission took action ahead of the scheduled date of 18 April (see here), given the emergency, today issuing EU implementing regulation no. 1171 of 16 April 2024 (OJL_202401171ITTXT) which will come into force tomorrow, 18 April.
Two municipalities in the Parma area in the red zone
Therefore, the map of the areas subject to the constraints of the PSA has been further expanded which from tomorrow will also include two municipalities in the province of Parma, Felino and Sala Baganza, in the zone subject to restrictions II, i.e. the zone of maximum restriction. The two municipalities in the Parma area therefore ended up in the red zone which has the obligation to empty pig farms.
As stated in the regulation «In March and April 2024, two outbreaks of African swine fever were also detected in feral pigs in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions of Italy, in areas currently listed as restricted zones I in Annex I of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594. These new outbreaks of African swine fever in feral pigs represent an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. Consequently, those areas of Italy currently listed as restricted zones I in that Annex, affected by these recent outbreaks of African swine fever, should now be listed in the same Annex as restricted zones II rather than as restricted zones I and the current delimitations of restricted zones I should also be redefined to take account of these recent outbreaks.”
Not only here, in the municipalities of restriction zone II, the farms will have to be emptiedas he pointed out Rudy Milanipresident of the national federation of pig farmers of Confagricolura, but the area is also home to numerous ham factories.
Non-DOP hams and cured meats produced in the province of Parma are penalised
A wave of problems could, therefore, touch hams, the excellence of Italian delicatessen, even if with regard to exports to the United States, one of the most important foreign markets of national delicatessen, hams with 400 days of maturation should be authorized, therefore those that boast the Dop mark.
The problem, however, and the major obstacles to exports, could arise for the export of non-DOP hams and for cured meats with lower maturation
Tags: Psa emergency province Parma Brussels sights
