Response to interpellation 2023/24:405 on economic compensation to companies affected by the swine fever restrictions
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns economic compensation to companies affected by swine fever restrictions. 1 KD argues that the authorities must base their actions on current legislation, primarily the epizootic diseases act, and that it is too early to draw conclusions about additional support before applications have been examined 2 3. KD opposes the government anticipating the process or exercising ministerial rule 3 and argues that the government follows the principles of the rule of law 4. KD is prepared to review the legislation in the future if the system does not work 4. 5 S argues that the epizootic diseases act is not adapted for forestry and the tourism industry 5. 5 6 S argues that the government should provide financial support via Tillväxtverket 5 6. 6 S considers that companies in northern Västmanland were left without support 6 and argues that it is uncertain whether companies will take responsibility during future outbreaks without support 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! Åsa Eriksson has asked me what initiatives I intend to take so that Tillväxtverket can provide support to the companies that have been affected by the African swine fever restrictions so that they can survive the crisis.
On September 6, 2023, the serious disease African swine fever was identified in Sweden for the first time ever. The outbreak itself was very serious, and a continued spread of the infection risked resulting in further consequences. Powerful measures were therefore necessary in the initial stage of the fight.
Now the restrictions could be eased significantly. The infected zone has been reduced. This means that certain areas that were previously covered by the zone are now completely free of restrictions, which is advantageous for private individuals, associations and companies.
The Zoonosis Act (1999:657) and the EU regulations in the field of animal health entail obligations for the Swedish Board of Agriculture to decide on measures and restrictions to combat serious animal diseases such as African swine fever. These measures can inevitably entail certain consequences for the companies and private individuals affected, and therefore there are also provisions regarding compensation in the Zoonosis Act. It is primarily these provisions on compensation that should be applied. Anyone who considers themselves to have been affected by costs or losses as a result of the Swedish Board of Agriculture's decision has the opportunity to apply for compensation.
The Swedish Board of Agriculture shall examine the compensation claims, and those who are dissatisfied with the Swedish Board of Agriculture's decision also have the opportunity to appeal it to the administrative court. Through the Swedish Board of Agriculture's and the courts' examination, it can be clarified who is entitled to compensation according to the provisions of the epizootic diseases act, and the government follows the examination that is ongoing.
As the incoming applications are processed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the picture of which actors and business sectors are covered by compensations in accordance with the epizootic legislation becomes clearer. Only when there is a clear picture of who is not covered can the question of additional support beyond compensation according to the epizootic law be considered.
Tillväxtverket has a mandate to assist regions and municipalities in the event of layoffs and restructuring in the business sector. Tillväxtverket is no longer responsible for any corporate support aimed at companies affected by unforeseen events. The support for short-time work may, for a limited period, be granted to employers who, due to temporary and serious economic difficulties, need to introduce short-time work. The support is now handled by Skatteverket.
Other measures are also underway to help the companies in the area covered by the restrictions. In connection with the outbreak, information was conveyed to affected business owners via the business portal verksamt.se. Almi in Västmanland has opened a business hotline where the county's companies can turn for support, advice, or help with the challenges they have faced due to the spread of African swine fever.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Minister Busch. It is very good that we can finally have this debate.
Since Minister for Enterprise Busch, as far as I know, has not visited the affected companies in Fagersta and Norberg which, in some cases, have practically been hit with a business ban due to these restrictions, I would like to give a description of what they have been affected by.
What has been called a contaminated zone since the end of the summer covers the entire Fagersta municipality and almost all of Norberg municipality. When one drives into our municipalities, one is met with large yellow signs where it says "Stop - contaminated zone", despite the fact that no contamination has been found outside the fenced-off core area. During the autumn, we were not allowed to have any activity whatsoever in the forest. We were not even allowed to go into the forest with a dog, go skiing, or anything else. This, of course, laid a dead hand over all forms of nature tourism and everyone who is dependent on it.
Madam Speaker! We who live in northern Västmanland are fully committed to contributing to ensuring that the African swine fever does not spread. We are used to stepping up; we are used to taking responsibility. We are impressed by how quickly Jordbruksverket and SVA made decisions, took measures, erected fences, and introduced restrictions. That was very good. But we are also frustrated by how the effects of the restrictions land in our laps in our everyday lives without the state doing anything to compensate those who are affected economically.
Madam Speaker! Since forestry has been prohibited in the two municipalities since September 7, forest owners and others who have operations in the forest are hit very hard.
The forest is an important industry for us in Bergslagen. The sole trader in Fagersta who engages in thinning, clearing, and other important maintenance on his forest property and who lives solely on what the harvesting provides is not allowed to perform any work. He also has no income because he is not allowed to harvest forest. He also knows that future harvests will yield poorer returns because he is not allowed to manage the forest as he usually does.
Madam Speaker! We understand that we cannot fell as usual in order to avoid scaring pigs into the fenced core area. We also understand that value is lost in the timber stock that exists. We know that the bark beetle problem is exacerbated when one cannot extract timber. Companies have incurred costs for downtime and remediation, but they have not received any financial compensation for it. When, Minister for Enterprise, will it come?
One example is that Karl Hedin Sågverk, as a direct consequence of the reduced timber deliveries, has suffered a production loss in its sawmills of 10 percent. That, Minister for Enterprise, corresponds to a contribution margin of 4.6 million kronor per month. Will the government ensure that the company is compensated for that?
Tourism businesses are left without jobs when customers do not dare to visit them. Will the government compensate for that?
Since we have not received any information earlier, I must ask a direct question. Will the government take the opportunity in the autumn budget to provide financial support to the companies that are now losing customers, business, and production due to the African swine fever restrictions?
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! Now that I have Åsa Eriksson before me, I would like to begin by thanking her for the interpellation. I also want to point out to those listening to the debate now, online, or afterwards, that this is the reason we have the opportunity to hold interpellation debates. It is about our ability to increase the understanding of the effects that different decisions have and that we should be able to highlight the reality as it looks in different parts of our country.
This is incredibly tough both for the entrepreneurs who have businesses that are, so to speak, close to the forest and who get their livelihood from it, and for those who have some type of business within the tourism industry. This is incredibly tough for them; I agree with this and share that view.
But one needs to work through a bit of how the responsibility is distributed if one is to be able to find a way forward. The authorities have a rather tough but clear regulatory framework to base themselves on. That means the room for maneuver is limited. We cannot make up here in the chamber how this should be met, but the authorities need to base themselves on the legislation that we have. That, Madam Speaker, is the only way to have a legally secure order.
The authorities succeeded in the containment work in many ways. It is an incredible support that, among others, the hunting corps, the municipality, and the general public have shown, and we should be proud of that. Åsa Eriksson is right to highlight the willingness that has existed to step up and do one's part. It has been an invaluable contribution. It is also the reason why we have nevertheless been able to see relief now. The Swedish Board of Agriculture was able to further ease the restrictions last week. The speed of the relief in this unique situation is directly related to how one has chosen to handle it.
But since it is the authorities that proceed based on the regulatory framework we have at present, it is difficult for a minister to evaluate the assessments that have been made and the decisions that the authorities have taken.
That is why, Madam Speaker, in my response I point to the cases that are now coming into the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Those who have been affected financially have the opportunity to apply for compensation, and if a rejection is received, it is reasonable to appeal. It is this that makes it possible for us to get an overview that would allow us to take further measures based on this. We are now following this closely to see how the current epizootic law is applied and if there is reason to make further changes.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker and Minister for Enterprise! It is positive that the government is now opening up to making changes. The question is only when they will come. If it is when the companies have already gone bankrupt, it is a bit late.
When crises arise, a government that claims to take responsibility for the entire country needs to act. For those of us living in northern Västmanland, the African swine fever is an enormous crisis that just keeps going and going. We who live in what Ebba Busch usually calls "hjärtlandet" now experience that it is a rather heartless policy from the government and that nothing is happening.
Madam Speaker! What is happening now is a pilot, we have been told by the authorities, because the epizootic law has never been used before. We have, fortunately, not had any outbreak of this type of infection previously.
But even if it is a pilot for the authorities, it is our reality and our everyday life for those of us who live and work in northern Västmanland. The restrictions mean enormous limitations in our everyday lives and in our ability to run businesses. For us, it is the reality, and it is serious.
The epizootic law is not adapted for forestry and neither for the tourism industry; I believe the Minister for Rural Affairs knows that. It is a law that is written for agricultural activities, and for that, it works well. Those who have been forced to cull their pigs have received compensation. That is absolutely excellent.
But all those who have lost assignments or customers receive no financial compensation at all. It is quite easy to see who can apply for compensation, as the list at the Swedish Board of Agriculture of those who do not have the right to apply for compensation according to the epizootic law is much longer than the one of those who have the right to do so. It should therefore not require any major investigation from the government's side to find out that the law does not work for the tourism industry and forestry companies that are affected.
Madam Speaker! I still do not understand why Tillväxtverket has not been tasked with paying out support. We have shown before that it is entirely possible. I do not think I need to remind the Minister for Enterprise how quickly the Social Democratic-led government acted together with other parties in the Riksdag during the pandemic to pay out support so that companies could survive and we could avoid mass bankruptcies and mass layoffs.
It was done. And if a social democratic-led government can do it, I believe that Ebba Busch can also do it. We Social Democrats are happy to participate and cooperate if that is the case. If one wants to, it can be done.
Madam Speaker! I want to once again pose my question to Ebba Busch. A spring revision budget is coming soon. There, the government has the opportunity to make changes to this year's budget because, when they laid the budget in the autumn, they perhaps could not oversee all the consequences of the African swine fever restrictions and how this would affect companies, associations, and municipalities in northern Västmanland.
These municipalities really need help now. Support is needed for the companies that are affected so that they can survive. But it is also about rebuilding attractiveness for this area, which visitors now avoid because one does not want to visit a plague-infected zone. We need to lure back visitors, expertise, and new residents.
I and everyone else who live and work in northern Västmanland want to hear from the Minister: Will we receive financial compensation in the autumn budget?
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! I want to emphasize once again that we truly see that this is an incredibly tough situation. We would not have been able to navigate around this and limit an incredibly dangerous infection in this way if it were not for how the local community, the municipality, the hunting association, and many voluntary efforts have responded to this very tough situation.
It is true that we have not faced this type of situation before, and we have not had reason to test the epizootic law strictly in the way that is now occurring.
I find it very difficult to see that what the Social Democrats are now requesting is that we should anticipate this or decide on a ministerial rule based on legislation that does not exist, and that we should tell the authorities how they should interpret the law. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that the Swedish Board of Agriculture must now examine the applications for compensation that have been submitted. They need to be examined based on the legislation that we have.
I have great understanding that this is a very tough situation for what Åsa Eriksson now explicitly refers to as the heartland. But no one is requesting that this should become a lawless land. And here is the tough reality that we have the legislation that we have. I, as a minister, cannot step in and say how an individual agency shall interpret this.
With this said, I am happy to be attentive if there are good suggestions for further navigation forward. And as I have marked earlier, we have a Minister for Rural Affairs, and we have me as Minister for Enterprise who follows this very closely. We have marked that if this does not work for reality, we will then need to draw conclusions based on that. It is too early to do so as the applications and examinations are now beginning to take place. It would be strange if we anticipated them?
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! I do not understand which law Ebba Busch means that I am suggesting one would break. The epizootic law is one thing. It works for what it is intended for. What does not work is that this right-conservative government is not taking the chance to provide extra funds to Tillväxtverket to compensate all those companies that the state has imposed a business ban on. It is not they themselves who have caused this. It is not they themselves who have chosen it, but they take responsibility and follow laws and regulations. That causes them to lose customers, business, and the opportunity to operate.
Madam Speaker! Future evaluations will show that the companies in northern Västmanland were left completely without support from the government when these restrictions were put into effect.
I wonder what will happen the next time we have a swine fever outbreak in Sweden. Unfortunately, it will happen somewhere. Everyone is probably in complete agreement on that. If one now sees that the companies and private individuals who have taken an enormous responsibility in northern Västmanland to prevent the spread of infection do not receive support and help but are left alone because the government does not want to act, then the question is whether they will take the same responsibility and stand out in the same solidary way next time to stop the infection when they know they will be left with debts without support from the government.
I would finally like to convey a greeting from the business chief in Fagersta that the Minister for Enterprise is warmly welcome to visit both Fagersta and Norberg. Then we will present her to all the companies that have been affected by the restrictions and who are not receiving any financial support at this point and tell her why it is not working.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! One must be somewhat precise, especially when we have visitors here in the chamber. We have a government that has an ideological home that is liberal, conservative, and Christian Democratic, if one is to be precise with words. It is also a government that believes in the principles of the rule of law. It is a government that does not want to abandon the proud and good Swedish tradition we have that a country shall be built with law, and now that legislation we have is being tested.
Madam Speaker! I have been very clear in this debate regarding the fact that the applications are now coming in and the cases are being examined. If one receives a no and considers that one should be entitled to it, it is also reasonable to appeal. But I cannot, as a minister, step into this situation and say: Now we short-circuit all of this. You shall have compensation. Period, end of story. In that case, there is no point in us having the legislation that we have.
Do the Social Democrats see a need already now to change this legislation, in which case we are happy to discuss this. What we have stated now is that if we were to notice that this does not work for reality, then we must do as we have done previously and be prepared to review the legislation moving forward. But now it would be very strange to short-circuit this.
I want to repeat that I am very proud of the commitment that so many actors have shown in this combat work. This has been a super tough situation. The alternative would have been devastating, i.e., not to show up and not to take these measures. It would have meant that we would have received even more restrictions and that they probably would have still remained.
I hope for all residents and those working in the region that the infection can be eradicated as soon as possible and that life in Fagersta and in Norberg can return to normal. I look forward to returning to the issue.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.