The production of palmipeds has been stopped in 4,000 farms in southwestern France, in order to eradicate avian flu. The measure could cost 300 million euros.
The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to “clean up the farms”. In order to stem the avian flu which has hit the southwest of France since the end of November 2015, the production of ducklings has been stopped. The measure, on an unprecedented scale, takes effect on January 18. In return, the massive slaughter of palmipeds, as a preventive measure, will not take place.
“Faced with this situation and taking into account both health and economic challenges, it appears necessary to effectively and sustainably eradicate the disease in the palmiped sector (ducks and geese, editor’s note) and more broadly to regain France’s free status as quickly as possible for the entire poultry sector ”, explained the Ministry of Agriculture on his website while 69 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza for poultry were detected in 8 departments.
300 million euros loss
More than 4,000 breeders are affected by this decision, ie 75% of French production. For some, this forced shutdown means production frozen for more than 6 months. And although they consider this “crawl space” procedure preferable to the mass slaughter of their animals, they fear the financial consequences. According to the Interprofessional Committee for Foie Gras Palmipeds, they could reach “200 to 300 million euros”.
A real blow for the industry which hopes to receive help from the State and Europe. But for the ministry, this decision was more than necessary. “This plan will allow the reinstatement of healthy ducklings in healthy farms from the end of the first semester. The production will thus be able to resume to ensure, under good conditions, the festive production of the end of the year ”, he indicated.
By hitting hard, the Minister of Agriculture, Stéphane Le Foll, hopes to restore the confidence of foreign countries. The stated objective is to allow the reopening of borders for all French poultry.
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