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
'Pluribus' release date: Everything you need to know about the new series from 'Better Call Saul's' co-creator - 2Cognizant Couture d: A Survey of \Moral Decisions and Sharp Looks\ Maintainable Style
- 3April's full moon decides the date of Easter — here's how it works
- 4Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches landmark Mars mission in New Glenn rocket’s first big test
- 5Oil, energy and food: Which countries in Europe are most exposed to higher food prices?
- As tetanus vaccination rates decline, doctors worry about rising case numbers
- Surprise! Saturn's huge moon Titan may not have a buried ocean after all
- Sa'ar warns German delegation: 'A Palestinian state would be a Hamas terror state'
- Australia Cracks Down on Gambling Ads as Prediction Markets Like Polymarket Remain Blocked
- CNN Crew Detained and Journalist Put in Chokehold in IDF Run-In: ‘We’re Journalists. What Are You Doing?!’
- Vote in favor of your Favored Travel Movement
- Reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in Palisades Fire, is running for mayor of Los Angeles
- Scientists sent a menstrual cup to space. This is how it went
- World’s tallest bridge and biggest museum named ‘greatest places of 2026’
