LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said on Friday it would temporarily stop imports of pork meat from parts of Spain after the country confirmed its first cases of African swine fever in just over three decades.
Britain is one of Spain's main customers for pork, and the move comes as authorities in Madrid activated emergency measures in Catalonia, a region central to pig farming.
"Following an outbreak of African Swine Fever in Spain, all fresh pork and other affected products from Spain will be held at Border Control Posts until further notice," Britain's environment department (DEFRA) said in a statement.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and keep all measures under review," it added.
Spain exported 37,600 metric tons of fresh and frozen pork to Britain so far in 2025, worth over 112 million euros ($129.93 million), up 17% in volume and 9.5% in value compared with all of 2024, according to data from the government-backed body the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.
The virus is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs and wild boar but poses no risk to humans. It has no vaccine or cure and often leads to mass culling when detected in farmed herds.
The disease has spread westwards in Europe in recent years, disrupting pork markets and prompting trade bans. Germany's outbreak in 2020 led to sweeping restrictions from major buyers such as China, while Croatia has battled infections in recent months.
Spain, the European Union's top pork producer, has so far avoided the virus in domestic pigs since 1994, making the latest detection in wild boar near Barcelona a significant concern for its 8-billion-euro ($9.28 billion) pork industry and export markets.
Britain's government earlier this year banned personal imports of ham and other meat and dairy products from all EU countries to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, following a rising number of cases.
($1 = 0.8620 euros)
(Reporting by Disha Mishra, Kanjyik Ghosh in Bengaluru and Sam Tabahriti in London; Editing by Chris Reese)
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Kristin Cavallari was the teen queen bee of 'Laguna Beach.' Now she's a 'cringey' mom. - 2Which Diet Prompts the Incomparable Wellbeing Results?
- 3Figure out How to Recognize Early Indications of Depressions
- 4German unemployment rate falls to 6.4%, but 3 million still jobless
- 5Find the Advantages of Positive Nurturing: Supporting Cheerful and Sound Kids
- The most effective method to Shield Your Gold Ventures: Procedures and Precautionary measures
- The Rhythms of the Street: Shipping's Tune in the Economy's Symphony
- Top 15 Supportable Design Brands Coming out on top
- U.K. blocks Kanye West from entering Britain to headline now canceled festival: What led to the ban
- Find the Force of The ability to understand anyone on a deeper level: Improving Mindfulness and Connections
- Oldest sequenced RNA reveals details about a mammoth’s final moments 40,000 years
- Russia accidentally destroys its only way of sending astronauts to space
- Investigate Something else for Less: Financial plan Travel Objections
- Iran war upends aviation strategies
