CIFOG and professionals “mobilized in the fight against the virus”

Recognized as an inter-professional organization in 1987 by the public authorities, CIFOG brings together all the professional families of the palmipeds and foie gras industry. Its professionals demand “the reinforcement of the means of the State on the ground and the payment in urgency of the first compensation”.

“Victims of a new episode of avian influenza since December, all professionals in foie gras (hatcheries, breeders, processors, etc.) are fully mobilized in cooperation with the public authorities to fight against the spread of the virus in farms of southwestern France. While outbreaks are multiplying very quickly in the Landes department and are starting to affect other departments such as the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Gers, the CIFOG (interprofession du foie gras) calls for a strengthening of human resources of State services in the field in order to speed up the implementation of management measures for these outbreaks. “

The vital question of compensation

“The profession is also asking for confirmation of State compensation to compensate for the damage linked to preventive slaughtering but also the losses linked to non-production due to the establishment of longer crawl spaces in farms. This compensation must also cover the losses of hatcheries linked to administrative decisions.In addition, in order to save farmers, already heavily impacted by the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis and the significant investments made over the last two years in biosecurity systems, it is essential that an advance of 70% of these indemnities be paid very quickly.

On the other hand, processing companies, already affected by the economic crisis linked to Covid-19 and deprived of raw materials following the shutdown of farms, will have to face serious economic consequences, in particular in the Landes, and are also asking for financial support from the public authorities.

In addition, the sector wishes to confirm that humans cannot contract avian influenza by consuming poultry meat or any other food product as already indicated by the Ministry of Agriculture.

CIFOG recalls that the French foie gras sector plays a very important role for the country’s economy and supports around 30,000 families in rural areas and represents nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, the vast majority located in the south. -West of France.”

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