Brussels, 07/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission adopted exception market support measures in the pig sector in Spain in order to attenuate the effects of classical swine fever in Catalonia. These measures concern the purchase of 200,000 fertiliser pigs and 170,000 suckling piglets located in the protection and surveillance areas established around areas where swine fever had broken out. The EU's contribution rises to around EUR 15.5 million and covers 50% of the cost of purchase of the pigs. The slaughter costs, and the cost for transport, possible storage and the quartering of the meat will be borne by the Spanish authorities. The pigs bought will be processed in rendering plants. The Commission explains that in restricted areas the movement of live pigs is banned in order to prevent the spread of the disease, which could seriously upset the pigmeat market in Spain. Market support measures will apply retroactively as of 18 February 2002 in order to prevent animal welfare problems due to animals being blocked in companies.
Furthermore, the Standing Committee of the EU on the food chain and animal health said, on Wednesday, that the health situation with regard to classical swine fever in the provinces of Barcelona and Gerona, in Spain, remained sufficiently worrying to decide to extend by one more month (until 30 April) the measures banning all exports of live pigs (as well as semen and ova) from the two regions. Also, protection measures adopted on 22 February aimed at banning exports of pigs from Luxembourg should be lifted on 15 March as no new cases of swine fever have been recorded there.