Following a positive vote by Member States, the European Commission has agreed to provide €27.2 million to Italy to help compensate farmers in areas affected by outbreaks of avian influenza, the Commission said in a statement. Financed by the agricultural reserve, the payments must be made to farmers by 30 September 2023.

Between 23 October 2021 and 31 December 2021, 294 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 were confirmed and notified by Italy. The species affected were chickens, laying hens, turkeys, ducks and Guinea fowls. Italy immediately and efficiently took all the necessary animal health and veterinary measures, including control, monitoring and preventive measures. Protection and surveillance zones were established. This led to a loss of production of hatching eggs, consumption eggs, live animals and poultry meat in the farms located in those areas under movement restrictions, as well as losses due to destroyed and downgraded eggs and meat.

Following a formal request by Italy, the Commission decided, after thorough analysis, to cover with EU funds 50% of the expenditure borne by Italy to support the market of eggs and poultrymeat seriously affected in areas under movement restrictions due to outbreaks of avian flu. Only farms located in those regulated zones until the end of 2021 will be entitled to receive this support, and payments must be made by 30 September 2023 to be eligible for Union part-financing.

After the formal approval of the support measure by the Commission, the implementing regulation will be published in the EU Official Journal and is expected to enter into force in the second half of April 2023.