Finland has relaxed restrictions in the area affected by African swine fever, allowing logging and wood procurement to resume across most of the controlled zone. Machinery must still be washed and disinfected before leaving the area, while stricter rules remain in place around Virolahti.<\/p>\n
The Finnish Food Authority\u2019s new decision permits logging, other forestry work, soil preparation and off-road driving. Burning remains prohibited.<\/p>\n
The change removes the immediate threat to an estimated 600,000\u2013700,000 m\u00b3 of annual logging. As GWMI reported on August 31, a year-long suspension could have cost forest owners close to EUR 30 million in stumpage revenue and removed approximately EUR 106 million in value added from the Finnish economy.<\/p>\n
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation welcomed the decision. Forest director Sami Oksa said disease controls should not impose unreasonable costs on forest owners, logging and transport companies or wood-processing plants.<\/p>\n
Restrictions remain tighter in the Virolahti core area, and another core area may be established farther west once authorities obtain more information about the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n
The reopening allows mills in southeastern Finland to regain access to much of the local roundwood supply, although machinery disinfection requirements will add costs for logging contractors working inside and outside the controlled area.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"