Source: MEATINGPLACE, 10/26/15

The European Commission recently issued a statement in support of a recent U.S. decision to recognize the EU regionalization system imposed to avoid trade disruptions in the event of an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Previously, the United States restricted imports of pork and pork products from regions where ASF existed. The new rule by the U.S. Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) means the agency will now accept the EU’s decisions on restricted zones to control animal diseases.

"This significant move reflects the confidence of the United States, one of our major trading partners, in our robust system to control animal diseases. It comes at a time when pig farmers across the EU face particular difficulties. It is of crucial importance that unjustified restrictions on imports of European pork are lifted," EU Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said in the statement.
APHIS, in its August notice, said it would remove Sardinia as an individually listed region affected by ASF, which has been detected only in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

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