The concern raised last week by rural entities of Río Negro and the governors Alberto Weretilneck and Rolando Figueroa about the possible elimination of the sanitary barrier south of the Colorado Riverwas put on hold when the national government itself, through the The Bioeconomy Secretariat clarified that a measure in this regard was not being studied.
However, within the national ruling party there are opposing positions and this was made clear by the legislator. César Domínguez, representative of La Libertad Avanza in Río Negro, who was inclined to lift the barrier and he talked about what it is about a measure for “commercial” purposes instead of “sanitary”.
The origin of the debate, which was once again on the Rio Negro agenda, was that in May the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA) At a meeting, he concluded with technical recommendations and, among them, accepted the transfer of live animals from areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination to those completely liberated.
Río Negro objected to this suggestion and there was concern among the provincial and livestock authorities about an approval from Senasa to move forward with the erection of the barrier. But on Friday Nación came out to clarify his position. “The Bioeconomy Secretariat informs that A measure to lift the functions of the barrier south of the Colorado River is not being studied“, he stressed and mentioned that “any measure linked to its functions and missions will be debated and agreed upon with the sectors involved.”
The government of Javier Milei also indicated – in an official statement – that Senasa “continues to strengthen the barrier in its role as a supervisory body and by virtue of ensuring the quality and safety of products and foods of animal and plant origin to safeguard the health of agricultural production.”
But within the ruling party there are opposing views and this is what legislator Domínguez expressed, on the same day of the Government’s message, through an opinion note titled: “Foot and mouth disease: trade barrier or health barrier.”
Domínguez supported his position in studies that mention that the risk of entry of the foot-and-mouth disease virus south of the Colorado River in bone-in meat is “insignificant” and pointed to the low export percentage of Rio Negro meat, which was 4%. . “It demonstrates that the internal market in Río Negro is a better business due to the price of meat due to lack of competition due to the barrier being in place.”.
He added that “the barrier that today does not make any sense, the WHOA declared Argentina free of foot and mouth disease and it is exported to the most demanding markets, without distinction, depending on whether it is with or without vaccination.”
For Domínguez “clearly the health barrier is a business that drains the pockets of the inhabitants of Río Negro, protected by the lobby of politicians defending the interests of ranchers and meatpackers of the region, some of them also feedlot owners, underestimate the intelligence of the people of Río Negro, wanting to treat them as idiots.”
The legislator spoke of “officials who stand on both sides of the counter”, classifying them as “livestock farmers” and stated that the “regulations that enrich a few from a privileged caste that make us pay three times more for meat than it is worth north of the Colorado River” must end.
