Mexico suspends imports of pork from Spain due to the outbreak of African swine fever

The measure has been taken in accordance with the international protocols to protect Mexican domestic pork production from possible risks to animal health, according to the ministry.

“The restriction applies to both commercial operations and transported pork products for travelers,” they added.

The National Service of Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality of Mexico has pointed out that the decision implies that products containing “porkproducts and by-products such as hams or sausages, matured products and pork offal for human consumption”.

Furthermore, the ministry has detailed that the “raw material for the production of pet food“nor can it be imported.

Repercussions in China

The Government has calculated that fourteen meat industries in the province of Barcelona may be affected by the blockade of pork exports to China, main client in Spainafter the detection of the first two cases of over the African pig.

The general director of Health of Agri-Food Production and Animal WelfareEmilio García, assured on Friday that they are waiting for China to give its approval to the activation of the bilateral protocol signed between the two in order to maintain exports to that country.

The Chinese authorities confirmed two weeks ago that they will accept regionalization (control of the disease in defined areas) if cases of African swine fever are detected in Spainalthough those farms located within the province where the outbreaks are located will not be able to export.

The general director has indicated that Japan and Mexico They have also closed their doors because they do not support regionalization, a concept that other countries such as South Korea o USA.

Spain has preventively blocked 121 export certificates for meat products of the more than 400 types that exist for a total of 112 countries, so in the rest of the cases the pork export.

“That suspension of certification is going to be resumed for those certificates in which we are sure it can be exported and there will be no reception problems at the destination,” García explained.

There are other certificates that have not yet been completely classified and that require a bilateral consultation with the countries, which is why the ministry has committed to periodically reporting any changes that may occur.