After an almost nine-month break, African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed again in Hong Kong. The new outbreak was officially reported by the animal health authority of the Special Administrative Region in a notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The source of the infection remains unknown.

The French government on Friday urged farmers to declare a so-called “Christmas truce” and halt road blockades and mass protests during the holiday period. At the same time, leading farming unions said their next steps would depend directly on the prime minister’s response to the sector’s key demands, Reuters reported.

Spain has confirmed a total of 27 cases of African swine fever (ASF) infection in wild boars. All infected animals were found north of Barcelona, although the most recent case was detected about 5 km from previous sites, raising additional concerns among veterinary and animal health authorities.

Canada is assessing the prospects for the commercial use of genetically engineered pigs while simultaneously pausing changes to its regulatory policy on cloned livestock, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS).

The European Union may sign the controversial free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc as early as January, despite failing to secure sufficient backing at this week’s EU summit. This was reported by Reuters, citing statements from EU leaders following the meeting.

Japan has agreed to resume imports of certain consignments of Spanish pork from the area near Barcelona where an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was previously detected. The decision applies to products that were processed and refrigerated before the virus was identified in the region. This was reported by the head of the Agriculture Department of the autonomous community of Catalonia, commenting on Japan’s decision.

Brazil is expected to rise to third place in the global ranking of pork exporters in 2025, overtaking Canada. This forecast was released by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), which anticipates a 10% increase in the country’s pork export volumes by the end of the year.

An investigation into the causes of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected among wild boar in Catalonia is ongoing in Spain. As part of the probe, Spanish police have carried out a search at a state-funded scientific laboratory near Barcelona. This was reported by Reuters, citing regional law enforcement authorities.

An international group of scientists has intensified research into the natural resistance of wild African pigs to African swine fever (ASF), aiming to move closer to the development of an effective vaccine. Researchers from The Pirbright Institute in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Roslin Institute, are focusing on the immune responses of both domestic and wild pigs, including African warthogs and red river hogs, which do not develop ASF despite being able to carry the virus.

Canada has reached an agreement with the Philippines on the application of an African swine fever (ASF) zoning mechanism in the event of a potential detection of the disease. The development was announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The arrangement is part of Canada’s broader preparedness measures against biological threats and is intended to preserve access to the Philippine market should an ASF outbreak occur in the country.

The European Union is approaching a decisive stage in the process of signing a trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc, which could become the largest trade deal in EU history in terms of tariff reductions. At the same time, the agreement remains highly contentious and faces strong opposition from several member states—most notably France, Poland, Hungary, and Italy—without whose support the deal could be blocked.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM) has published the final tariff rates on imports of pork and pork by-products from the European Union, concluding an anti-dumping investigation that lasted a year and a half. The new tariffs will apply for five years and will enter into force on December 17. Compared with the previous provisional measures, China has significantly reduced the tariff levels, and Spain has managed to minimise the negative impact by being placed in the lowest tariff range.

The European Commission has officially expressed concern over China’s decision to impose tariffs on pork imports from the European Union. Brussels stated that the Chinese anti-dumping investigation is based on “questionable allegations and insufficient evidence,” Reuters reports.

The European Parliament has supported strengthening protection mechanisms for European farmers within the framework of a potential trade agreement between the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur. The move is part of Brussels’ efforts to persuade sceptical member states to approve what would be the largest trade agreement in the European Union’s history, Reuters reports.

Spain has reported a further increase in cases of African swine fever (ASF) among wild animals. Authorities have confirmed 10 additional wild boar deaths caused by the virus, significantly expanding an outbreak that has been ongoing since November and has placed the country — one of the world’s leading pork exporters — on high alert.

In 2024, the United States recorded a significant increase in sales of antimicrobial drugs approved for use in food-producing animals. According to the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sales of medically important antimicrobial agents for animals used in food production rose by 16% compared with 2023.

European Union member states are planning to hold a decisive vote as early as next week on whether to sign a major trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc. This was reported by Reuters, citing a statement from Denmark, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council. If approved, the agreement could be signed before the end of the year.

Mexico has opened an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into imports of pork legs and shoulders from the United States following petitions from domestic producers, who allege unfair pricing practices and possible government support for U.S. suppliers. Reuters reported this, citing an official statement from Mexico’s Ministry of Economy.