Lumpy skin disease: agricultural unions stand up to prefectures

Discovered on June 29, 2025, in Savoie, the outbreak of lumpy skin disease is causing concern. Following its identification, the prefectures of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain, and Isère jointly decided to strictly enforce European regulations to contain the bovine disease.

Also read: Isère and Haute-Savoie: measures against an unprecedented outbreak of nodular skin disease

But the FDSEA (Departmental Federation of Agricultural Workers' Unions) of Savoie, the Young Farmers and the entire dairy industry are opposed to these decrees, denouncing in a press release " a rushed and disproportionate implementation of the prefectural decree […] The measures imposed by European law and applied without discernment by the French authorities are inconsistent and disproportionate. "

They also denounce the regulations imposed by Europe with " disproportionate measures " such as the obligation of widespread pasteurization of milk or the 50-kilometer restriction zone. Which, according to the agricultural union, would impact " 2,200 farms representing 225,000 animals ."

The unions also estimate that the implementation of these measures would result in losses estimated at more than one million euros per day for the dairy industry. Faced with this situation, they are calling on the government. The FDSEA is calling on the government " to show political courage and immediately suspend the implementation of these inappropriate European measures. "

The unions are also calling for a more targeted response on the ground and for France to be able to negotiate a European exemption to " apply proportionate, traceable and appropriate measures. "