Estonian pig farmers say they won’t abandon their work, even as mass culls and the worst African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in a decade threaten domestic pork supplies. More than 55,000 pigs – about one-fifth of the country’s domestic pig population – have already been destroyed. The hardest blow came in late August, when the…
Supermarkets told ERR that if VAT were lowered on food, they would pass on the savings to customers. The government has previously said retailers will pocket the difference themselves. Estonia’s VAT rate rose to 24% on July 1 and there are no exemptions on food products, unlike in many other European countries. A petition calling…
The Food Industry Association has written to the prime minister, saying stores are increasingly stocking cheaper foreign goods, disadvantaging domestic producers. The association told the prime minister and finance minister that there had been a 7% rise in foreign goods on supermarket shelves over the last year. “This means that a growing share of the…
Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce (EPKK) chief Kerli Ats says domestic pork supply has been slammed by ASF, with consumers likely feeling the impact in six months. – The head of the Estonian Pig Breeding Association (ETSAU) warns the situation is so severe, Estonians might have to forgo having a domestic traditional Christmas pork…
Bulgarian fruit and vegetable producers warned that the survival of their sector was now at stake because of the lack of water for irrigation. The Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industry addressed an open letter to Parliament Speaker Natalia Kiselova and the heads of parliamentary groups, demanding an urgent meeting. According to the producers, crops…
The chief veterinary officers from the Baltic States and Poland have called for EU legislation to be strictly adhered to when containing African swine fever, which is currently spreading in Estonia, saying it risks jeopardizing the credibility of the region and even the whole EU. Since June, more than 20,000 pigs have been culled in…
The Bulgarian canning industry is facing a critical moment, with experts warning that it could be approaching its end. Stoyko Kirovski, chairman of the Union of Fruit and Vegetable Processors, said that, unless urgent measures were taken, consumers might soon see store shelves filled with imported products such as pickles from India, roasted peppers from…