ROME - There is a ban on all hunting activities except the selective hunting of wild boar in the area established as infected by African swine fever, 114 Municipalities of which 78 in Piedmont and 36 in Liguria, after the cases recently found in a specimen of ungulate in the municipality of Ovada (Alessandria) as well as in two wild boar carcasses in the municipality of Fraconalto (Alessandria) and in that of Isola del Cantone (Genoa).
This is what the joint ordinance issued tonight by the Ministers of Health Roberto Speranza and of Agricultural Policies Stefano Patuanelli provides. Wild boar selection hunting, the provision specifies, is allowed as a tool to reduce the excess population and strengthen the monitoring network for the presence of the virus. While in the area the collection of mushrooms and truffles, fishing, trekking, mountain biking and other activities of direct or indirect interaction with infected wild boars are also prohibited.
"The ordinance - it is emphasized - allows production activities to continue working safely, providing reassurance regarding our exports". The ordinance takes effect from the date of adoption and the provisions are effective for 6 months from that date. Again in the ordinance it is stated that the provisions "also apply to the regions with special statutes and to the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano. Compatible with the respective statutes and the relative implementation regulations". The supervision of the application of the measures introduced is ensured by the veterinary services of the territorially competent local health authorities in collaboration with the police.
The objective of the joint ordinance is "to implement all measures useful for an immediate contrast to the spread of the PSA and its eradication to protect the health of the national pig fauna and zootechnical heritage and the economic interests connected to non-EU trade and exports to Third countries of pigs and derived products ". The cases of African swine fever (Psa) found in recent days had activated precautionary measures at the borders of Switzerland, Kuwait and in the East (China, Japan and Taiwan) where a temporary stop was given, announced Confagricoltura, to the import of meat and cured meats made in Italy. Exports are at stake, according to CIA-Italian Agricoltori estimates, which amount to 1.7 billion euros (+ 12.2% vs. 2020).
"The activities related to health, to the care of kept and wild animals as well as to the health and care of plants, including silvicultural activities, are excluded - reads the ordinance".
"The competent regional services, continues the document, at the request of the interested parties, may authorize, upon justified and documented request, the carrying out of prohibited activities, based on the risk assessment by CEREP".
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