Italy is prepared breach European Union rules on state aid to agriculture in order to boost poultry farmers decimated by consumer fears over bird flu, Italian media quoted Agriculture Minister Gianni Alemanno as saying Saturday.

Alemanno said he and Health Minister Francesco Storace will travel to Brussels on Monday to press Italy's case at a special EU council of ministers meeting devoted to the virus' threat to Europe.

Italy's move is likely to spark similar demands from other countries fighting bird flu.

Alemanno said he would ask Brussels to allow Italy to double to 40 million euros (48 million dollars) subsidies earmarked for farmers left with unsold poultry due to plummeting demand.

"If we don't get the authorisation, we will ask the government to go ahead even if it means risking EU sanctions," the minister said.

Sales of poultry have plunged 70 percent and some 30,000 industry jobs have been lost after eight wild swans were found to have died from the highly pathogenic form of the virus.