Russian pig industry on the verge of catastrophe
The heads of the Russian veterinary services has recently announced a gloomy forecast for the spread of the disease African Swine Fever (ASF) in Russia.
The head of Rosselkhoznadzor’s department for Rostov Region, Volgograd Region and the Republic of Kalmykia, Anton Karmazin, said the situation with ASF during recent years has been steadily moving “from bad to worst”.
He made this announced at the South-Russian Veterinary Congress which opened in Rostov-on–Don on 26 September where the fight against ASF in coming years will be one of the main topics of discussion.
“Due to the active spread of African Swine Fever and Russia’s accession to the WTO, which has led to the serious decrease of all tariffs on pork import from abroad, pig production in the country is currently standing on the brink of catastrophe,” he said.
According to the Department Head of Rosselkhoznadzor, each year the country recorded growth in the number of outbreaks of the virus which is increasing in a geometric progression. “Infection covers new regions and the damage amounts to billions of rubles,” he said.
According to Karmazin, to stop the spread of the ASF the country should change the legislative base of the veterinary system as well as the structure of the veterinary services, which currently is operating ineffectively.
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