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
James Webb Space telescope spots 'big red dot' in the ancient universe: A ravenous supermassive black hole named 'BiRD' - 2Congress is running out of time to extend ACA subsidies as the GOP moves on to an alternative plan. Here's where things stand.
- 3The face is familiar, the name might not be. The king of "Hey, it's that guy!' roles is ready to show you his next act.
- 4Want to make America healthy again? Stop fueling climate change
- 5Venezuelan President Maduro arrives in New York following U.S. capture: Full coverage
- Southern Californians, your health insurance costs could rise in 2026
- Bird flu poses risk of pandemic worse than COVID, France's Institut Pasteur says
- Manual for Tracking down the Nearby Business sectors and Marketplaces
- Tehran synagogue damaged by missile strike according to Iranian media
- Three killed as unfinished building collapses on church service in Ghana
- Tributes pour in for James Ransone, 'The Wire' actor who died at 46
- Picking the Right Doctor prescribed Medication Inclusion in Senior Protection.
- Health officials report 14 Legionnaires' disease cases in Florida, gym connection suspected
- Doctors thought he had cancer. An offhand suggestion led to a rare diagnosis.
