Minister says domestic pig farming industry placed at risk

Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić has warned farmers and consumers that failure to comply with strict biosecurity measures could put Croatia's entire pig farming industry at risk.

"The disease is spreading rapidly in neighbouring countries. In Serbia, for example, the number of euthanized pigs and the infection rate are six times higher," Vlajčić said.

"Despite this alarming situation, there are reports from Dalmatia that illegally sourced meat has been smuggled into restaurants," he added.

Vlajčić said he found it "incomprehensible" that Croatia's entire pig farming sector was being placed at risk for someone's personal profit.

The warning comes as Croatia faces its third serious outbreak of African swine fever in the past three and a half years.