Italy: EU bans pork exports from Sardinia due to ASF
The disease spread in recent weeks, prompting the Commission to expand the current ban from certain Sardinian provinces to the whole island. Exports of live pigs and pork products have been banned in certain parts of Sardinia since a recrudescence in ASF cases was observed in 2005.
The EU decision said: “During the past weeks Italy has informed the Commission of a significant increase in numbers and territorial extension of outbreaks of African swine fever in seven out of eight provinces of Sardinia, affecting also large commercial pig holdings.
“The current disease evolution on Sardinia is liable to endanger the pig herds in other regions of Italy and in other Member States, in view of placing on the market of pig meat and pig meat products and any other products containing pig meat.
“It is therefore necessary to extend the risk areas to the whole of the region of Sardinia.”
