Polish retailers refuse to accept African swine fever 'red zone' meat

Polish pig producers and MEAT processors have asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Grzegorz Puda, to take urgent action to overcome the negative impact of African swine fever on the economy.

Pig breeders and pork suppliers are experiencing insurmountable sales problems: retail chains refuse to accept meat and meat products produced on the domestic market, citing a difficult epizootic situation. Farmers and meat-packing plant owners said the retailer is violating obligations under long-term contracts.

About 30% of Polish pig-breeding enterprises found themselves in the “red zone” for ASF, which already includes such regions with a high concentration of meat production as Piotrkovsky and Zhuromin districts. Many of them have a high degree of biological protection. Before the sale of pigs of slaughter conditions, blood samples are taken from animals for seven days to analyze the genetic material of the ASF virus. The entire supply chain from the manufacturer to the meat processing plant is built in accordance with the requirements and with the direct participation of specialists from the state veterinary inspection.

The statement noted that retail chains refuse to accept meat that is guaranteed to be safe for consumers. Retailers' policies have meant that breeders and farmers from the "red zone", despite the fact that their herds are healthy, are deprived of the opportunity to sell their products. Particularly affected are breeders, balancing on the verge of business profitability. If the ministry does not intervene, then ASF will cause irreversible damage not only to agriculture, but to the entire economy of Poland, the appeal says. it was signed by representatives of several large industry associations: POLPIG, the Polish Meat Union, UPEMI, the Polish Association of Butchers and Meat Producers, POLSUS, the Grain and Feed Chamber.