Raimo Heinam, Director General of the Agriculture and Food Board, said that if the Spanish laboratory does not detect the plague in the pigs from Nurme Farm, the piglets will survive. If the plague is not found, the trust in Estonian laboratories will drop to a very low level.
Has the culling of pigs been postponed, or is there a possibility that they will survive? The culling decision has not been reviewed again at this time. Today, we decided to wait for the response from the Spanish laboratory and then make the next decisions. If Spain says there is no plague, the pigs will survive.
Does this change the policy? No, this is not a change in policy. This is an exceptional situation and very rare. We trust the Estonian laboratory (LABRIS), but this situation requires special attention.
Why is confirmation from the Spanish laboratory needed? Is the Estonian laboratory not good enough? The truth is that the Spanish analyses were ordered earlier. They were sent last week, and since the African plague is dangerous, there are special requirements for sending it. This process took a long time.
If the pigs survive, what does this mean for the future? It will lower the trust in Estonian laboratories to a very low level. This is a complex situation, and it is difficult to predict what will happen. I hope that such a situation does not arise because food safety depends on the reliability of laboratories.
Can the spread of the African plague be limited? The plague cannot be completely eradicated. It has been in Estonia for about 15 years and spreads mainly among wild boars. Reducing the number of wild boars is the main way to control the plague.