All the African swine fever restrictions in Belgium are to be lifted after a two-year policy resulted in the eradication of the disease from Belgian territory. In September 2018, in the province of Luxembourg, a wild boar infected with ASF was discovered. The measures implemented since then by Belgium to eradicate this disease included the deployment of EU Veterinary Emergency team of experts, enhanced passive surveillance, awareness raising and cooperation among all stakeholders (notably private and public veterinarians, forestry officers, farmers and hunters), as well as with neighbouring countries. Elements now support the absence of ASF virus circulation in Belgium for the past 12 months and the disease did not spread to the domestic pig population. Therefore, following a vote by the Member States in a Standing Committee yesterday, and the adoption of the Regulation by the Commission today, all the restrictions regarding Belgium are to be lifted. Belgium has become, after Czechia in 2019, the second Member State to eradicate ASF from its territory. The disease is still being reported in 11 Member States.

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