There is an urgent need to tighten controls at all entry points in the EU when it comes to African swine fever, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis has said.

He told Monday’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council that the disease has continued to spread outside of Europe in an uncontrolled manner.

“We have substantially managed to keep its spread in an area of our union. It has now reached vast regions of China and other regions of Asia.

“The Czech Republic eradicated ASF in February, other member states are working hard to control it. Last week’s cases in Bulgaria is very worrying, the vigilance is not up to required levels.

“As the summer peak of disease levels approaches, there is no time for complacency.

“The Commission is on the first line of this fight,” he said.

The Commissioner stressed the critical importance of biosecurity protection, highlighting that the recent seizure in Northern Ireland indicated that the global scenario has changed and indicates the spread of the disease.

“There is an urgent need to tighten controls at all entry points in the EU. Attention needs to be paid in airports to travellers from Asia,” he said.

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‘Urgent need to tighten controls in EU over African swine fever’

African swine fever has continued to spread outside of Europe in an “uncontrolled manner”, the EU food safety commissioner has said.