Italian regions push for funding and renewed restrictions to combat African swine fever

The regional agriculture assessor of Emilia‑Romagna, Alessio Mammi, sent a letter to the national agriculture minister and the emergency commission demanding the restoration of state financing for indirect damages incurred by the pig‑farming sector due to African swine fever (ASF) restrictions. Funding that covered damages up to 30 Nov 2023 and 31 Oct 2024 totalled €50 million, but no resources have been allocated for losses after 1 Nov 2024. Mammi warns that the virus is spreading among wild boar and domestic pigs, eroding margins and threatening the national livestock heritage. He cites regional biosafety initiatives that have supported about 180 farms with barriers and structural measures, and calls for immediate extraordinary measures and new funds.

In Piemonte, the regional government issued a new ordinance re‑instating ASF containment zones and authorising the culling of wild boar for the next two months, after the previous order expired on 12 May. Agriculture assessor Paolo Bongioanni and health‑safety official Federico Riboldi emphasised that uninterrupted preventive actions are essential to protect the economically vital pork sector. They pledged continued collaboration with farmers, hunters, provincial authorities and industry groups to contain the disease.