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Zagreb - The parliamentary Agriculture Committee on Saturday discussed the measures being taken to curb African swine fever, with representatives of pig farmers saying that "sales must function in controlled conditions" and veterinarians pointing to a lack of Civil Protection's assistance.
Agriculture Minister Marija Vučković said the disease was detected on 26 April, that 163 farms had been affected, that trading in animals was immediately restricted, and that a national crisis team was established to control and curb ASF.
She recalled the measures undertaken to control the spread of ASF, to protect, examine, euthanise and dispose of animals while complying with measures for their welfare, and to deal with the consequences of natural disasters.
Croatian Veterinary Chamber president Ivan Zemljak said authorised veterinary organisations were helping implement the government's ASF measures but that there was lack of assistance from Civil Protection and the army to deal with euthanised pigs.
The president of the national federation of pig farmers, Damir Jagić, said "sales must function in controlled conditions" and that professionals and the Agriculture Ministry should "find a model so that animals which have not been infected can be sold freely."
Committee chair Marijana Petir said the situation was serious and that the hardest-hit were Sisak-Moslavina County, where there are restrictions due to ASF, and the Slavonia region, where the bulk of pork production takes place.
She said it was important to continue to talk with slaughterhouses and meat producers so that healthy pigs were not euthanised.
She also said that due to the severe thunderstorms that hit Slavonia this week, cattle and dairy farmers were still without electricity, and called for providing them with generators from the commodity stockpiles.