Already weakened by a structural decline in livestock numbers, the French beef industry is facing a new difficulty: its exports are disrupted by the presence in France of a viral disease affecting ruminants and deer. On September 18, the first cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) appeared on three farms, a virus that has been present for several decades in North America and for a year in Southern Europe. Which, under European protocols, prohibited the export of cattle from affected French areas to a European Union country (except in the case of bilateral agreements.
The entire Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Landes and Ariège are affected, where there were 53 outbreaks on Friday evening, according to the Minister of Agriculture. But also, partially, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Tarn, Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales. This disease, carried by insects but not transmissible to humans, presents only a low risk for the cows and ruminants concerned (1% mortality). Affected animals are not slaughtered but treated. However, the industry is currently struggling to understand the degree of virality of this new disease in France.
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The movement of animals from the vast regulated zone of the South-West to the rest of France is also authorized, subject to a negative biological test. The increased needs in Europe for young calves are helping breeders in the South-West to find exits. “This year there is a deficit of 200,000 calves in France,” explains Patrick Bénézit at FNB, “so the demand is there. The real risk remains that the disease spreads, further closing the borders.” Indeed, if France was hopeful on Tuesday evening of finding an agreement with Italy to normalize these strategic trade flows, the sector remains suspended from the evolution of the disease.
If the virus were to spread to other territories, as was the case in Spain, where no region is spared, losses could very quickly mount. “In this context, it is important to pursue bilateral agreements in Europe to preserve trade flows as much as possible,” concludes Patrick Bénézit. For now, the virus appears contained, with the Ministry of Agriculture not reporting any new outbreaks of MHE since October 6. But he specified that third countries had also closed their borders, notably Algeria. “It is too early to raise the question of aid to breeders, since the economic damage will ultimately depend on the date on which we manage to reopen the borders with Italy and Algeria,” said a spokesperson for the ministry, Monday.