Agriculture, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

"There will be serious restrictions for pig farms in the third zone, which, however, does not mean that it would be impossible to produce and market pork. It is necessary to take the new rules into account," said the Minister for Rural Affairs Urmas Kruuse. "Ekseko's exclusion from the zone three restrictions shows that he company's investments in very high level of biosafety have paid off."

"The meat from the third zone must be processed and marketed at special conditions, according to the decision of the European Commission. This ensures the traceability of meat from the restricted area. Meat from the third zone farms is perfectly normal pork that has passed though an even tighter control before reaching shops, "said the Director-General of the Food and Veterinary Office Ago Pärtel.

African swine flu has been found in seven farms in Estonia. The first discovery was made last week. The amount of destroyed pigs exceeds 2,000. The plague has been diagnosed among domestic pigs in four Estonian counties: Viljandimaa, Valgamaa, Tartumaa and Järvamaa.

There are currently around 900 pig farmers and 370,000 pigs in Estonia.

African swine fever in Latvia has been found in 426 wild boars in 78 counties of 28 regions so far this year.