Restrictions for nodular dermatosis are lifted in 79 municipalities

BarcelonaThe Catalan Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, has announced that restrictions imposed on 79 Catalan municipalities due to outbreaks of contagious nodular dermatosis (CND) in France will be lifted this Friday, allowing 1,100 cattle farms in the area to resume moving their livestock. "We have a natural barrier of mountains, cold, and snow, and it was unreasonable that we should have to pay the price for the neighboring country's problems, especially given the large radius of the outbreak and the fact that all our farms are vaccinated," Ordeig stated from Lleida. The Minister explained that the decision was made after "intense and lengthy negotiations" between the European Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Catalan Department of Agriculture, "and with close collaboration from the entire sector." However, the regional minister reminded everyone that restrictions due to the dermatosis remain in place in 165 municipalities of the Alt Empordà region, where the last case was detected and where there are 1,079 farms. If all goes well and no new positive cases emerge in that area, this measure could be lifted on February 26. Meanwhile, Ordeig indicated that a solution is being negotiated with the Ministry and the European Commission to ease the movement of animals in the area. The Minister of Agriculture reiterated that the vaccination rate in the areas affected by positive cases is 99% and that a review of all animals is currently underway to ensure that none remain unvaccinated. Furthermore, Ordeig reported that it is "mandatory" for 100% of the animals to be vaccinated before January 31, and warned that "sanctioning procedures" will be initiated if this is not the case.

Furthermore, Minister Ordeig indicated that the compensation payments for the sanitary culling of farms to the affected livestock farmers were completed on January 15th, totaling 6.3 million euros.

21 new cases of African swine fever

Furthermore, the regional minister explained that 21 new wild boars have tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) within a 6-kilometer radius of Cerdanyola. Therefore, the current restriction zones remain unchanged, and operations will continue as before. These 21 new positive cases have been confirmed over the past seven days, according to Ordeig, who added that the total number of confirmed cases is now 85. For this reason, there are no modifications to the current restrictions in the area, but access restrictions and activities in the natural environment will be lifted in the coming days, as determined by experts.