Regionalization approach would allow China to import pork from unaffected regions of France even if there were an outbreak in another region
France will still be able to export pork to China even if it has an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), according to an agreement reached between the two countries this week.
The agreement, which takes effect immediately, would allow China to import pork from unaffected regions of France even if there were an ASF outbreak in a different region of the country.
“This agreement is the first of its kind to be signed by China in favor of a European Union country. It is thus a model and heralds future agreements with other sectors and countries,” French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said in a report.
In a separate statement, China’s finance ministry said it welcomed “the entry into force of the regional management agreement for African swine fever.”
China is the largest pork export market for France and the European Union. ASF has not been detected in France, but has affected neighboring Germany, as well as other EU countries. When ASF was first detected in wild boars in Germany in September 2020, several of its export markets, including China, banned pork imports from the country. According to Reuters, talks are ongoing between China and Germany about a similar regional approach to trade.
Recently, the National Farmers Union of Scotland demanded that the United Kingdom stop imports of pork from EU countries with confirmed ASF cases, citing the risk of ASF entering the U.K. However, in March, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) published Compartmentalization Guidelines: African Swine Fever with the intention to facilitate safe national and international trade in pig products, as well as to promote disease prevention and control.
So far this year, more than 1,700 outbreaks of ASF have been recorded among domestic pigs in the EU, with the disease confirmed in 10 countries this year.
