Ban on Hungarian pork expanded

BBJ

Two further countries have announced a ban on Hungarian pork imports. Belarus and South Africa will import neither pork nor live hogs because of reports of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Hungary, daily Magyar Idők reported.

Following the discovery of African swine fever in a wild boar in northern Hungary, Serbia, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have already announced a ban on pork and pork products. Now two other non-EU countries have joined the ban, Belarus starting from April 26 and South Africa for meat packaged after April 4 or shipped after April 25 from all of Hungary, Magyar Idők reported.

György Kis, president of the Hungarian Purebred Pig Breeders’ Association, told Magyar Idők that losing Serbia is the most harmful, as every tenth hog leaves Hungary via Serbia. However, he added, Serbia has not taken this decision against Hungary specifically as imports from any country with a virus outbreak are automatically banned to Serbia.

Hungary must convince both domestic consumers and foreign partners that by following EU regulations it can guarantee the safety of meat, by tracking back every shipment, Kis said. With the exception of the smallest farms, it can be completely excluded that Hungarian hogs came into contact with the ASF virus, as all facilities are protected and in line with all hygienic regulations, he added.