Brussels will grant €46.7 million to Italian poultry farmers affected by avian influenza

Following a positive vote by Member States, the European Commission will provide €46.7 million to Italy to help compensate livestock farmers in areas affected by outbreaks of avian influenza. Funded by the EU Agricultural Reserve, payments must be made to farmers by September 30, 2024. Between January 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022, Italy confirmed and reported 23 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5. The affected species were chickens, laying hens, turkeys, ducks and guinea fowl. Italy immediately and effectively adopted all necessary health and veterinary measures, including control, monitoring and prevention measures. Protection and surveillance zones were established, resulting in a loss of production of hatching eggs, food eggs and live animals on farms located in areas subject to movement restrictions, as well as losses from destroyed and degraded eggs and meat. Following a formal request from Italy, the EC decided, after an exhaustive analysis, to cover ...