Exceptional support measures for the pigmeat market in Poland

Between 1 August and 30 September 2016 a series of outbreaks of African swine fever related to the human factor were confirmed and notified to the Commission by Poland. The epidemic was particularly severe because the virus circulation was confirmed at several holdings with domestic pigs in a relatively wide geographic area.

Poland implemented preventive measures in the areas concerned. In particular, the movement and transport of pigs has been subject to stricter surveillance measures and the marketing of pigs has been subject to restrictions within the domestic market. Poland informed the Commission that those measures affected a very large number of pig holdings and that the producers concerned suffered income losses. On 4 November 2016, the Commission received a formal request from Poland for part-financing of certain exceptional support measures.

According to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/647 of 5 April 2017, Poland is authorised to grant aid to producers in the pigmeat sector whose holdings were subject to animal health measures for the control of African swine fever:

• For the sows the aid shall be EUR 0,34 per kilogram of carcass weight.
• For the other pigs the aid shall be calculated per kilogram on the price difference between the price reported by Poland for the area in which the holding of the producer is located for the week of the delivery of the pigs to a slaughterhouse and the price actually paid to the producer proven by means of an invoice. The aid per kilogram shall not exceed the following amounts:
  • EUR 0,23 per kilogram per pig with a carcass weight of 93 kilograms or less;
  • EUR 0,34 per kilogram per pig with a carcass weight of more than 93 kilograms but not exceeding 105 kilograms;
  • EUR 0,46 per kilogram per pig with a carcass weight of more than 105 kilograms.