Croatia Tightens Measures Against African Swine Fever

Croatia is intensifying its fight against African swine fever (ASF) with new, stricter measures aimed at protecting its domestic pig farming industry. The National Crisis Headquarters has agreed on enhanced wild boar culling and farm surveillance to curb the spread of the disease.

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Unlike most EU member states that have infected wild boars, Croatia records disease outbreaks on domestic farms as well.

Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić highlighted that the problem extends beyond wild boars, with human error and non-compliance with biosafety measures being significant factors. Unlike many EU members with only infected wild boars, Croatia faces outbreaks on domestic farms. Vlajčić noted that nearly half of pig farms still have non-compliance issues, and over 20% lack adequate biosafety measures, indicating ASF has become a chronic, not just acute, problem.

To address this, intensified inspections are planned, with the Ministry of Interior and Customs Administration bolstering surveillance of transport and border crossings. Previously temporary police checkpoints in Slavonia will become permanent, particularly near the vulnerable borders with Osijek-Baranja and Virovitica-Podravina counties. Controls will also increase at border crossings with Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, as well as on forest roads in protection zones. Police will support hunting teams, using drones with thermal cameras to locate wild boars.

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After three years of fighting the disease, almost half of the pig farming facilities still have identified non-compliance issues, while more than 20 percent of farms do not have satisfactory biosafety measures.

Special intervention teams of experienced hunters will conduct increased wild boar culling. Croatian Forests will suspend permits for gathering forest fruits, and warning signs will be posted at forest entrances. Citizens are advised to avoid recreational activities in forests to minimize virus transmission risk. The minister stressed the urgency for all breeders to comply with biosafety rules to preserve domestic production and prevent animal euthanasia. For farms that remain non-compliant after three years, mandatory slaughter with thermally processed meat is being considered, with the state covering the price difference. The processed meat could then be supplied to public procurement systems for the military, police, schools, and elderly homes, as well as through retail chains and the hotel sector.

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It is high time for all breeders to align their farms with the prescribed biosafety rules, because the goal is to preserve as much domestic production as possible and avoid the euthanasia of animals.