Agriculture ministers from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia have agreed to combine their efforts to tackle African swine fever (ASF).
At a meeting in the Lituanian capital, Vilnius, last week the four decided to set-up a Baltic States and Poland veterinary services expert working group that will meet at least once every two weeks to analyse current information on the prevalence and eradication of ASF and decide on common measures in curbing the disease.
“The joint action between the Baltic States and Poland will include our four countries having a common position in representations to the EU, such as the negotiations with the European Commission for co-financing the increase in funding to combat the disease, compensation and support for logistics,” Latvia’s agriculture minister, John Duklavs, said in a statement on his ministry’s website.
Latvia reported its first case of ASF in June this year, while both Lithuania and Poland had pigs test positive earlier in 2014.