Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 5/23/19


USDA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have agreed to a zoning system that would allow safe trade to continue should African swine fever (ASF) be reported in either country.

The two countries have worked to modify their export certificates to allow trade of live swine, swine semen, pet food and animal by-products and meat to continue in approved disease-free zones in the event of an ASF outbreak, the chief veterinary officers for both nations said in a joint statement.

The agreement builds on zoning arrangements entered into by CFIA and USDA in August 2018 that established principles for zoning and trade.

Separately, Greg Ibach, USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, said this week that an effective vaccine for African swine fever could take up to eight years to be developed, according to media reports. Ibach spoke before the House subcommittee on livestock and foreign agriculture.

Burke Healey, associate deputy administrator for veterinary services at USDA’s Animal and Plant Inspection Service, also testified before the subcommittee, pointing out that there are more than 20 different types of ASF, according to a report by Progressive Farmer.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation this week said the Chinese retail pork market appears to have stabilized for the time being, with meat cases stocked and price increases muted, despite estimates that China has lost more than 20% of its hog herd to ASF.

China canceled its largest U.S. pork order in more than a year last week as the trade war between the two countries escalated.

Also last week, USDA announced it was stepping up preparedness efforts with the addition of sample testing of high-risk animals.
Reuters said China has reported more than 120 outbreaks of the disease in all of its mainland provinces and regions, as well as Hainan island and Hong Kong, since it was first detected in the country in early August.

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