A total of 35,600 pigs have already been sent to slaughterhouses. All animals have undergone the required veterinary checks and show no signs of ASF. However, their meat may only be sold on the domestic market, as exports from the restricted zone remain prohibited.
In parallel, the government is finalizing a report commissioned by President Salvador Illa on wild boar density in Catalonia’s forests and measures to reduce their population.
The farmers’ unions Unió de Pagesos and Asaja say the ASF outbreak is costing Spain’s pork sector €24 million per week. They consider the €10 million in financial aid announced by the Catalan government to be “completely insufficient.”
“This is not enough, and we will continue pushing for additional subsidies that meet the sector’s real needs,” said Rossend Saltiveri, head of the pork division at Unió de Pagesos.
Pere Roqué, president of Asaja Catalunya, stressed that a significant reduction in the wild boar population must be a priority:
“We need to carry out culling. We cannot afford to lose a single farm.”
Ordeig maintains that the government is already taking all necessary steps: in addition to the initial €10 million, the package may be increased by another €10 million, and farmers have access to a €50 million credit line from the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF).
The minister confirmed that no new ASF cases have been detected. Current restrictions remain in force until December 14, and the government “will not extend them unless strictly necessary.”
According to Ordeig, the public is largely complying with bans on entering natural areas: in the 11 days since the outbreak began, the emergency line 112 has received about 1,700 ASF-related calls.
Aerial monitoring is also underway — forest rangers are flying over Collserola Park to verify compliance with containment measures.
On December 9, the Catalan High Court reported that a judge in Cerdanyola del Vallès had opened an investigation into the ASF outbreak. The court will examine whether the origin of the virus could be linked to violations of environmental regulations or negligence.
Catalonia is one of Spain’s key pig-producing regions, making containment of the outbreak and mitigation of economic losses top priorities for the regional government and the entire sector.
PigUA.info based on materials from catalannews.com