STENBOCK HOUSE, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) — The Estonian government on Thursday approved a €1.5 million package to help livestock farmers prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious animal illness that has triggered outbreaks in Central Europe.
The funds, drawn from the government reserve, will be distributed through the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture to support investments in biosecurity on farms across the country.
“This is about preparation and protection,” the ministry said in a statement. “Preventing the disease from reaching our farms is a top priority.”
Officials estimate the funding could support between 30 and 300 farms, with individual grants ranging from €10,000 to €100,000 depending on the scale of the investment. While the total need in the sector exceeds the current allocation, the funds are expected to assist the most vulnerable producers.
“Even though Estonia’s risk level is currently low, prevention is essential,” the statement said, noting the country has around 5,000 livestock farms and over 276,000 ungulates, including cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.
Recent outbreaks in Central Europe have led to the slaughter of more than 14,000 cattle, triggering major trade and export disruptions. Officials said nine sources of infection have been identified across the region.
Foot-and-mouth disease is not harmful to humans but poses a significant threat to livestock. In the event of an outbreak, farmers can face mandatory culling, movement restrictions, and costly market barriers.
The ministry said it hopes the support scheme will be implemented swiftly and provide targeted relief to producers at greatest risk.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
