"Protest by Farmers' Union: Objecting to the Outbreak"
The Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) National Council member, Johannes Schmuckenschlager, has criticized a new regulation issued by the coalition partner Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) regarding Classical Swine Fever (CSF) import restrictions. The criticism of the regulation was particularly strong on Sunday.
Schmuckenschlager, who is also the President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, has expressed his opposition to the regulation. He called it "madness" and considered it grossly negligent and irresponsible towards farmers. The Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture and Burgenland also oppose the change in the regulation.
Under the new regulation, the blanket ban on importing certain animal products from Hungary will be limited to areas designated as protection, surveillance, or further restriction zones according to EU disease control rules. This adjustment in the regulation was made by the Ministry of Health, led by the coalition partner SPÖ. However, Schmuckenschlager argued that the new regulation loosens measures during Easter travel, which could potentially pose a risk to the farming industry.
Burgenland's Deputy Governor Anja Haider-Wallner (Greens) and Chamber of Agriculture President Nikolaus Berlakovich (ÖVP) have also called for a delay in the easing of animal and animal product imports from Hungary and Slovakia. They argue that the new regulation would make border controls effectively impossible.
The Ministry of Health that issued the regulation on adjusting import restrictions for Classical Swine Fever is the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). It is unclear at this time whether the criticism will lead to a reconsideration of the regulation.
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