SF (The Socialist People’s Party) suggests that the agricultural sector should cover the costs of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as avian influenza, instead of passing the bill on to taxpayers. This is stated in a new proposal from the party, which aims to change the current practice where the state often ends up paying for both culling, compensation, and cleaning in connection with disease outbreaks in livestock production. From 2021 to 2023, authorities have spent 137 million kroner on avian influenza, of which around 13 million kroner went towards culling animals, while the rest was used for compensation and cleaning, reports TV2 East.
Carl Valentin, SF’s spokesman on agriculture and food, criticizes the current model for being a form of hidden state support for agriculture and proposes that the sector itself should cover the costs through a state insurance scheme, a guarantee fund, or mandatory insurance for farmers. “It is important that agriculture prepares and ensures itself financially against future outbreaks. If the sector had been insured and had saved up, the bill would not be so high for society when the disaster strikes,” says Carl Valentin.
This year, avian influenza has particularly hit turkey production hard, with 117,000 culled turkeys in areas including Ruds Vedby and the surroundings of Slagelse and Skælskør. Valentin emphasizes that similar outbreaks will occur again, and therefore it is essential to find a sustainable economic model for handling these. SF’s proposal will be discussed in the Danish Parliament on Tuesday, where the party hopes for support to change the current funding model.