Ukraine ask FAO and EU for funds to fight ASF

Ukraine has asked the FAO and EU for financial assistance to help stop the epidemic of African Swine Fever (ASF), reported State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine (Gosvetfitoslujba) head Vladimir Gorzheev.

“The Ukrainian authorities are negotiating with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide financial assistance for a various activities to combat the spread of the virus of African swine fever (ASF),” said Volodymyr Gorzheev.

“We are currently still in the stage of negotiations with the EU. We have provided a number of proposals about the exact amount of assistance. We do not need professional help, we need help with equipment for PCR laboratories,” he said.

The Minister could not forecast the amount of funding only noting that it will be known after the upcoming meeting. If the funds are allocated they will be spent on the purchase of modern diagnostic tools and on the construction of two PCR-laboratories in two different part of the country.

Gorzheev also expressed assurance that the funds will be allocated, given EU and FAO fears of ASF virus spreading to the west.

“The countries of the European Union, have expressed concern regarding the outbreak of ASF virus in Ukraine and its possible spread into the territory of the European countries. Therefore, Ukraine has already received offers from the European Union for assistance in resolving the situation around identification of ASF in the Zaporozhye region,” said Gorzheev.

“Ukraine also sent samples of material from dead animals to Spain, where the specialists confirmed the presence of ASF and its timely detection, which helped to check further spread of the disease,” he added.