On Friday 28 September, the European Commission said it was examining Czech measures considered by the country’s veterinary services to test the safety of meat from eight EU countries affected by cases of African swine fever.
According to the Czech authorities, emergency veterinary measures will be announced by the country on Monday 1 October and will come into force the next day. The obligation to test pork meat will apply to all operators importing pork and pork-based products from Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.
After inspection, pork could then enter the Czech market. Importers not complying with the demands set by the country would risk a fine of up to 2 million Czech crowns (around USD 90,868).
Unjustified. The European Commission said on Friday that it was in contact with the Czech veterinary authorities to get details of the planned measures. Revitalisation policy (which allows products to be banned) foresees safeguards and any additional measure could be deemed unjustified under Internal Market rules, explained a European Commission spokesman, pointing out that the EU has a strategy for tackling African swine fever and that in Belgium, only wild boar have been affected. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)