Government Introduces Strict Measures: Removal of Pigs in Two Counties by August 12

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has issued an Order on additional control measures to combat African swine fever in high-risk areas in Virovitica-Podravina and Osijek-Baranja counties. The key provision mandates the removal of all pigs in these areas, with a deadline for implementation set for August 12, 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture David Vlajčić explained that the decision was made after milder measures had been exhausted. "I did not issue the order immediately because we wanted to give a chance to stop the spread and save every pig we could save," he stated. He added that waiting had become counterproductive as the disease spreads daily to new farms within existing hotspots.

Priority is organized removal, not mass euthanasia

The Minister revealed that he rejected an initial, more radical proposal. "The first scenario that landed on my desk was drawing a line and euthanizing all farms with fewer than 1,000 pigs. I simply could not allow that; I did not want to," Vlajčić emphasized, adding that he hopes this approach will protect traditional farming and people's livelihoods.

The priority is the organized transport of pigs for slaughter to designated slaughterhouses under the supervision of the veterinary inspection of the State Inspectorate. The killing of animals by authorized veterinary organizations will only be carried out on farms where transport is not possible. In four municipalities where the disease is spreading most intensively, veterinary inspectors and police are already implementing measures, and approximately 600 registered pigs remain in that area and will be removed.

Last chance for 300 farms

In parallel with the removal, enhanced veterinary surveillance will be conducted on approximately 300 farms in the immediate vicinity of the hotspots. Farmers will receive specific instructions to rectify deficiencies and an additional ten-day period to comply with the prescribed biosecurity measures. Minister Vlajčić was clear: "This is the last chance to comply. Those who meet the prescribed rules will continue production."

He emphasized that this is the culmination of years of efforts. "If, after three years of warnings and additional opportunities, the rules are still not respected, we will have no other choice," he stated. Over the past year, veterinarians have conducted more than 20,500 farm inspections, provided training, and repeatedly reminded farmers of their obligation to raise biosecurity standards.

Compensation and the goal of protecting the herd

Farmers who have acted in accordance with regulations are entitled to compensation based on the market value of the pigs, in line with the Animal Health Act. All costs of implementing the measures, including killing, disinfection, and safe disposal, are covered by the state budget.

"Our goal is not to euthanize as many animals as possible; quite the opposite, it is to protect the Croatian pig herd with the smallest possible number of removed pigs," concluded Minister Vlajčić. "We are intervening now so that we do not wait for the remaining farms to become infected and risk the virus spreading from existing hotspots to other areas."