16 European countries united to fight against ASF

Delegates from more than 16 countries of Europe in the framework of the 9th meeting of the Permanent Working Group of Experts on African Swine Fever of the Baltic States and Eastern Europe under the auspices of GF-TADs met in Kyiv on March 22 to discuss cross-border cooperation aimed at the legal movement and control of the illegal movement of pigs and products made out of them. This is stated in the message of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

The President of GF-TADs in Europe Bernard Van Gotham, the chairman of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Volodymyr Lapa, the director of the Department of Food and Veterinary Medicine of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Boris Kobal, the head of the Office of International Cooperation of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Olha Shevchenko and the deputy head of the department - the head of the external relations department Eurointegration of the Office of International Cooperation of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Olena Kuriata, experts from the European Commission, FAO, WHO and OIE on ASF took part in the conference.

"The working group includes more than 40 people from more than 16 countries in the Eastern European region," is said in the report.

Participants discuss a number of issues related to cross-border cooperation aimed at combating and preventing ASF, in particular, legislation, cooperation with law enforcement agencies, regulation of wild boar numbers, information work, etc.

Chairman of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection Volodymyr Lapa expressed his hope that by joint efforts of the competent authorities the countries of Eastern Europe will be able to reduce the number of cases of ASF.