Belgium lifts mandatory testing for ASF

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) is calling on hunters to be extra vigilant for African swine fever this hunting season.

Pig and cattle inventories continue to decline in Belgium while the number of poultry, sheep, and goats is increasing.

For the first time in decades, fewer than ten tons of pigs were slaughtered. in Belgium.

Pig feed production has fallen nearly 7% due to poor market conditions and the uncertainty caused by the nitrogen policy.

Last year, more than 3,000 wild boars were shot in Flanders.

The outbreak started in two wild boars in northeast Albania.

The new animal welfare label "Better for animals" is awarded to products that make extra efforts for animal welfare beyond the legal requirements.

Montenegro reports the first occurrence of ASF in the country, found in wild boar.

After five years, the Chinese market opens again for Belgian pork.

The European Commission gave its final approval for the second call for the voluntary closure of pig farms.

Wallonia is once again taking measures against the overpopulation of wild boars that they have been struggling with for years in the south of the country.

Pig farmers will have until June 17 to sign up for the voluntary buy-out scheme.

This expansion of the regulations comes at the request of the industry, which is struggling with a lack of veterinarians.

The strongest drop in production occurred in the pig sector.

Higher grain prices prompted Belgian farmers to grow more spring grains and maize in 2022. The pig inventory declined.