Tamm said that ASF is still a big problem in the region and better strategic decisions can be reached by working together, spokespeople for the Ministry of Rural Affairs told BNS.

"I value the format of high-level meetings, as then we can share Estonia's experiences and utilize the research data of all countries in order to be ahead of the spread of the disease and implement relevant measures at the right time," he said.

Tamm emphasized the need for implementing biosecurity measures in farms and households as well as increasing awareness about the disease. "We need to carry on with warning campaigns aimed at pig farmers, hunters and the general public a well as continue regular biosecurity controls in farms and hunting districts," he said.

"If no new cases of the disease are registered on Estonian farms in the summer of 2017, we plan to file an application with the European Commission at the end of July for third-zone ASF restrictions to be lifted," Tamm said.

The Estonian minister participated in a high-level meeting focused on ASF in Riga on Friday. Other participants included European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis and delegatins of ministers of agricultre and chief veterinarians from Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.