55,000 Pigs Culled — But Processors Still Pay for ASF Losses
Pig farms in Estonia receive state support for culling due to African swine fever (ASF), but meat producers must cover all losses themselves.
African swine fever (ASF) continues to rattle Estonia’s pork sector. Since June, more than 55,000 pigs — about one-fifth of the national herd — have been marked for slaughter. Farms get some relief from the state when culling becomes unavoidable, but processors face a different reality: if ASF is detected in their stock, they must destroy everything at their own expense.
For meat companies, this means sudden and heavy losses. A single infected carcass can force the disposal of entire production batches, wiping out revenue in an instant. Sten Inno of Matsimoka, which relies on local farms, says no support exists for processors even though they are required to destroy potentially infected products.
The government response is split. Prime Minister Kristen Michal has hinted at possible measures to ease the strain on the industry, acknowledging that ASF is not only a farm-level issue but an economic one. Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi, however, insists the budget cannot stretch to cover every business risk.
Meanwhile, ASF control continues on multiple fronts. Dozens of farms face entry bans to stop the spread, and hunters are tasked with culling 18,000 wild boar — a known vector for the virus.
The question remains: if farms are shielded from the worst financial hits, should processors be left to fend for themselves? For now, Estonia’s meat industry is carrying that burden alone.
Source: https://news.err.ee/1609790751/meat-producers-with-asf-cases-must-cover-the-cost-of-stock-disposal