Final green light from the Chamber of the Chamber to the decree law that contains urgent measures to stop the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Italy.

The text was approved with 316 votes in favor, two against and 43 abstentions. Fdi abstained.

The law decree provides for the adoption of regional plans relating to urgent interventions for the management, control and eradication of African swine fever in farmed pigs and wild boars, defines the procedures and responsibilities for their implementation, including activities relating to slaughtered animals, and delegates the definition of the technical parameters of biosecurity for pig farms to a ministerial decree.

THE COMMISSIONER - An extraordinary Commissioner is established with tasks of coordinating and monitoring the actions and measures put in place to prevent contain and eradicate ASF, appointed by the Prime Minister on the proposal of the Minister of Health, in agreement with the Ministers of agricultural policies food and forestry and for regional affairs and autonomies. The Extraordinary Commissioner will have to coordinate the veterinary services of the local health authorities competent for the territory, the public health structures and the regional administrative and technical structures; verify the regularity of the killing and destruction of infected animals and the disposal of pig carcasses as well as the disinfection procedures carried out under the control of the competent ASL.

CONTAINMENT MEASURES - During the examination in the Senate, the construction of fences or other temporary and removable structures for the containment of wild boars in the infected area corresponding to the restricted area was added.

SIGNALS AND SANCTIONS - Finally, an obligation to report is introduced for the discovery of injured or dead wild boars and a pecuniary administrative sanction for the non-fulfillment of this obligation.

STOP THE EMBARGO - "During the debate on the Swine Fever decree, in the Chamber of Deputies, I wanted to re-launch the appeal, accepted by the Government, on the need to remove the embargo on meat and products of the supply chain produced in Sardinia" words of , deputy of the Brothers of Italy. "For over 12 years now, it has been imposed on us by the European Commission, but for almost 4 years there has been no evidence of the disease in Sardinia". "I thank Undersecretary Costa who accepted the new agenda which, in addition to reiterating the need to adopt, at the competent community and regional offices, every appropriate initiative in order to obtain that the Sardinia region be reclassified with the EU 2021 regulation / 603, thus allowing farms in good standing and certified to be able to export to Italy, Europe and non-European Union countries, also evaluates any appropriate initiative for the sanitation of vehicles transporting animals embarking for Sardinia and which could be the cause transmission of the disease ", the addition in a note." This allows, above all, to resort to the derogation regime, also allowing establishments that process and handle meat from restricted areas, to market their products of swine origin in national and community context, where the raw material has been subjected to adequate treatment , aimed at eliminating the possible presence of the swine fever virus ".