There plague swine puts the dried ham of Parma, Italian excellence exported all over the world. The increasingly high number of cases counted in Emilia Romagna, in fact, endangers the supply chain which since January 2022 has been dealing with the disease that has settled in the area and puts production at risk.
Dangers not for human health, but for the commercial sector which for months has been struggling to stay afloat by dealing with the continued restrictions which, from month to month, sees new countries refusing to import ham. And companies, with exports blocked, are asking drastic measures.
Swine fever and the risk for Parma ham
Since January 7, 2022, the alarm went off in the Parma ham production chain, with numerous cases of swine fever reported in the area. In fact, several wild boar carcasses were found in the area and, after analysis, were found to be infected with the disease which, however, appears not to have entered the farms.
But despite the absence of temporary dangers, for the ham sector thenightmare goes on. It continues especially for the Parma Ham Consortium after the European Union published a regulation that expands the areas subject to restriction. And the owners of the farms end up under investigation for hiding the disease.
Currently, according to what La Repubblica finds, at least 15 factories that produce Parma ham can no longer export to Canada, a country that does not accept products from restricted areas. But also China, Japan And Mexico they blocked exports, effectively putting companies in difficulty.
However, the United States and Australia are resisting, although problems could be around the corner. In fact, the threat is the passage of the virus from wild boars to pigs, a spread that would also put farms at serious risk and would lead to a lack of raw material.
In recent months the heart of the Food Valley, Parma and its ham district, seems to be under attack, with the findings of carcasses of wild boars infected with swine fever which have recently occurred closer and closer to the countries that are protagonists in the production of cured meats.
Culling of wild boars proposed
So what can we do to try to stem a danger that now seems imminent? The Region has provided an answer by calling for a drastic reduction in the number of wild boars, an attempt to eradicate the virus to save farming and pork exports.
Coldiretti, which reports that the supply chain is worth over 20 billion euros, therefore wants measures. The same ones that Stefano Fanti, director of the Parma Ham Consortium, would like to see in place.
“Let’s be clear, what is happening must be treated as an emergency, otherwise we won’t get out of it,” he said, underlining that there is great concern and the fear of swine fever is strong.
The request, without mincing words and without mincing words, therefore comes loud and clear from the Consortium which asks for an extra step: “The army against the wild boars, funds for biosecurity, traps and fences, but also for hunters. We don’t need refreshments tomorrow.” Requests that also reached the extraordinary commissioner on swine fever, Vincenzo Caputo, who said that they will soon be accepted, promising military interventions, culling and compensation to try to stem a problem that could lead to huge damage for the sector and for the the Italian economy.
