Direct losses to pig breeding farms and budget in Russia due to African swine fever amount to 2B rubles, industry official says

Nevin Barich

RUSSIA , November 25, 2013 (RBC News) – Direct losses to pig breeding farms and budget due to the African swine fever (ASF) amount to RUB 2bn (approx. USD 60.78m) since the disease has spread in Russia, General Director of National Union of Swine Breeders Yuri Kovalev said today during the RBC press conference. Culling more than one million hogs because of the illness is not the biggest problem, in his opinion. The so-called indirect losses are even higher and are estimated at RUB 30bn (approx. USD 911.7m) at least.

Addressing measures to combat the ASF, experts point to the reform of the existing laws which would allow the veterinary service of the country to unite its forces against the disease.

In addition, according to Kovalev, changing or in fact introducing rules of swine breeding for individual farmers is another important measure as currently such rules hardly exist or take the form of non-binding recommendations.

The respective amendments to the law are expected to be submitted to the Duma in 2013.

(c) 2013 RosBusinessConsulting

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