Background and Context
French farmers have been staging protests since veterinarians slaughtered over 200 cows in a border town near Spain last Friday after discovering a single case of the infectious disease, dermatosis nodular. The situation has escalated tensions within the agricultural community, which was already on edge due to the potential signing of a trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur bloc.
Farmers’ Grievances
Many cattle breeders have expressed outrage over the police’s use of force and the government’s policy of mass culling to curb the spread of this viral infection transmitted by insect bites, common in North Africa. Although harmless to humans, the disease causes blisters and reduces milk production in cows, often leading to trade restrictions and significant economic losses.
Protest Actions
- Farmers have blocked roads since the slaughter of the cattle herd, demanding an end to the culling of bovines.
- Christophe Ubeda, a farmer, stated to AFP during a protest near Bordeaux: “You can’t just wipe out entire herds because one animal is sick. Tests should be conducted.”
- In southern France, demonstrators blocked highways to demand an end to these slaughters.
- Cédric Baron, a breeder, said near Carbonne: “We’ve put up Christmas trees and are ready to celebrate.”
Government Response
The French government has maintained its stance on culling affected herds and vaccinating all cattle within a 50-kilometer radius. However, on Monday, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard appeared open to revising the strategy.
“The farmers asked me if we could expand the vaccination area, and I listened to them,” Genevard said during a visit to Toulouse, referring to extending this measure in two southern French regions.
Union Divisions
The unions are divided. The Coordination Rural and the Confederación Campesina, the second and third largest unions in the sector, oppose euthanasia and advocate for widespread preventive vaccination.
The main union, FNSEA, supports the authorities’ protocol, fearing that widespread vaccination would deprive France of its “healthy country” status, thus limiting its ability to export live cattle for months.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the disease causing the controversy? The disease in question is dermatosis nodular, a viral infection spread by insect bites that affects cattle.
- Why are French farmers protesting? Farmers are upset about the culling of cattle herds due to a single case of dermatosis nodular and the government’s policy of mass culling.
- What are the farmers’ demands? Farmers are calling for an end to cattle slaughtering and advocating for widespread preventive vaccination instead.
- What is the government’s stance? The French government supports culling affected herds and vaccinating all cattle within a 50-kilometer radius.
- How are unions responding to the situation? Union divisions exist, with some advocating for widespread vaccination and others supporting the government’s culling policy.
