November 26, 2024

Belgian agency urges for vigilance for ASF as hunting season starts

Belgium's Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) is calling on hunters to be more vigilant for African swine fever as the hunting season begins.

This summer, dozens of ASF cases were detected 200 kilometers from the Belgian border, near Frankfurt, Germany. Several cases have also been reported in Italy.

Hunters who come into contact with wild boars are urged to strictly observe hygiene measures. It is crucial not to take meat or products from wild boars from areas where ASF is present.

Futhermore, a hunter may not enter a pig farm for 72 hours after contact with a living or dead wild boar.

David Clarinval, Federal Minister of Agriculture, said: "In Belgium, ASF last appeared in 2018. No fewer than 29 third countries imposed restrictions on the trade of Belgian pork to their territory. As a result, around 70% of that export market in third countries disappeared. It took years of negotiations before most countries lifted their embargo. For example, it has only been possible to export Belgian pork to China again since the beginning of 2024. I would therefore like to ask our hunters to observe hygiene measures so as not to jeopardise the results of our work."

- FAVV