Livestock transporters call for action against AVP

Vee&Logistiek Nederland calls on the Dutch government to restart public information about the risks of 'bringing along' African Swine Fever (AVP) from holiday countries. Traveling people should be urged not to bring food and meat products from abroad to the Netherlands and never to leave food (residues) in the open countryside.

The Producers' Organization Pig Farming (POV) shares our concerns about the risk that ASF reaches our country, V&L reports in a statement. The livestock transporters are very concerned that the ASF virus is being dragged into the Netherlands in such a way and infecting wild boars or the Dutch pig herd. The closest source of infection is on the German/Polish border. There, the number of cases of infection among wild boars is still increasing.

Threat undiminished
"The ASF virus seems to be at a distance, but this virus can suddenly move 500 km. An animal disease outbreak, such as the Classical Swine Fever in 1997 or FMD in 2001, has major negative consequences for humans and animals. The government is therefore doing everything it can to prevent this," V&L said in a statement. The organization says the "threat of African Swine Fever remains as great for the Dutch sector." 

The livestock transporters call on the Ministry of Agriculture to use all its communication channels to activate alertness. Tourists and seasonal workers can easily introduce the virus if they are not careful, the organization outlines. She points, for example, to the overflowing garbage cans with food scraps in parking lots along motorways. "A danger for animals and therefore also wild boars that come to it and pick up pathogens, including the ASF virus that can be in food."

Eric the Thrush

Eric is a member of the editorial staff of Boerenbusiness. As a descendant of an arable family, farmer's blood flows through Eric's veins. He considers himself a generalist, but with a preference for economics, trends, markets and marketing.

e.delijster@boerenbusiness. Nl

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