Italy: €46.7m in AI support from EU for poultry farmers

The European Commission has allocated €46.7 million in aid for farmers in Italy who have been hit by the successive outbreaks of avian influenza in the country. In the first months of 2022, Italy confronted 23 epidemics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5), the European Commission explained. The species affected were chickens, laying hens, turkeys, ducks and Guinea fowl. Italy took rapid action by implementing strict sanitary measures regarding animal health, including prevention zones around affected premises. This led to a loss of production of hatching eggs, table eggs and live animals in the farms located in those areas under movement restrictions, as well as losses due to destroyed and downgraded eggs and meat. Reacting to an official request from the Italian government, the European Commission will provide €46,670,790 from the so-called Agricultural Reserve after a positive vote by member states. The amount should cover 50% of the expenses the Italian authorities made ...