Commissioner Cioloş met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
In the meeting with Prime Minister Tusk in Warsaw, Commissioner Dacian Cioloş informed that the Commission is ready to compensate losses of the Polish pigmeat producers from areas affected by the African Swine Fever restrictions. The crisis has had a very negative impact on farm revenues and brought the sector to a halt.
Following the meeting this afternoon Commissioner Cioloş stated:
"This is a serious situation and I informed Prime Minister Tusk that the Commission is ready to financially support this scheme. I have asked for this proposed plan to be discussed and voted on by Member States in the Management Committee next Thursday. Even though it will only be formally published the following week, the plan would be backdated to animals slaughtered from February 26 onwards. As well as continuing to talk to the Russians about regionalising the disproportionate global ban which Moscow introduced on imports of all EU pigmeat, the Commission is of course following the pigmeat market very closely and will take further action if necessary.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said:
“In this crisis situation for our farmers it is important to react rapidly. The results of discussions we had today will contribute to the efforts that we are undertaking to mitigate the losses of our farmers and the meat processing industry. I highly appreciate the prompt response of Commissioner Cioloş to our request."
Veterinary tests have shown that the pigs from the restricted zones were not infected with the virus and that the meat is perfectly safe, but there has clearly been a loss in confidence both at consumer and slaughterhouse level. The plan will be backdated to cover animals slaughtered since the restrictions were introduced. The aid will be based on the difference in the slaughter price in the restricted zone and the rest of the country in recent weeks.
