The updated import regime follows the European Union’s regionalisation principle, which restricts trade only from outbreak zones rather than the entire country.
According to the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), imports of pork from Barcelona and surrounding areas — where nine ASF cases have been confirmed — remain suspended. However, pork from other parts of Spain may resume entering the British market.
“Following the outbreak of African swine fever in Spain, imports of all fresh pork and related products from the affected region are restricted. Exports from disease-free regions of Spain can continue as normal,” Defra told Reuters in an emailed statement.
The department added that it continues to closely monitor the situation.
Spain is the EU’s largest pork producer and a key supplier to the UK. Since the beginning of the year, the British market has received 37.6 thousand tonnes of Spanish pork worth over €112 million.
London’s decision came after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged the UK and other trade partners to maintain access for pork from regions outside the containment zone.
Earlier this week, Spain also resumed exports to China from unaffected regions after Beijing narrowed its restrictions to Catalonia only.
Some countries, including Mexico and Canada, have still not adopted regionalisation and continue to block pork imports from all of Spain.
PigUA.info based on reporting from thepigsite.com