Agrigento: searches and health checks in various establishments in the agri-food sector

At the same time as the execution of a precautionary measure ordered by the Authority Judicial Department of Palermo, the State Police has proceeded to a series of searches of initiative against individuals deemed to be close to those arrested, as well as multiple targeted individuals veterinary and hygienic-sanitary checks on agricultural companies and farms operating in the Girgento area of ​​Santa Margherita del Belice, Montevago and Sambuca di Sicilia conducted by the Agrigento Police Headquarters, with the support of the Crime Prevention Departments of the State Police, and of the Department of Health Activities and Epidemiological Observatory of Palermo, Agrigento and Trapani.

The checks concerned, in particular, health checks in four sheep factories, two dairies and a milk depot in the Municipality of Santa Margherita Belice. In this regard, the veterinary doctors, constantly supported by the police officers of the Central Operations Service, of the Sisco of Palermo and of the Mobile Squads of Agrigento and Palermo, have noted - inside one of the monitored sheepfolds - the non-correspondence between the number of animals registered in the National Database of Zootechnical Registries and the actual number of animals present, as around 40 adult animals were absent and the presence of around 100 unidentified sheep over the age of six months and around 30 with incomplete identification were also detected.

Furthermore, within another sheep farm, the veterinarians ascertained the site where the animals were present does not appear to be registered in BDN with regular registration number, as the owner of the farm did not request any registration of the grazing code outside the company headquarters. Again, within the same fold, the incorrect identification of approximately one hundred animals and therefore the veterinarians ordered the immediate blocking of movements to or from the business. Similarly, following an inspection of a company located in Agrigento, the veterinary staff found the presence of 53 heads of sheep without the so-called "accompanying document" (Mod. 4) and therefore ordered the immediate blocking of their movements until the non-conformities found were resolved.

The initiative activity is part of a broader coordinated counteraction by the SCO by the State Police, against criminal interference in the agro-pastoral sector and in the agri-food supply chain, also to protect public health.