EU Authorises Import of Live Pigs from the United States
EU - A measure authorising the import of live US pigs into the EU for breeding and production was adopted by the European Commission. These new rules will lead to the import of a limited number of breeding animals. They will apply from 25 February 2013.
6 February 2013
2 minute read
Import conditions include individual testing of pigs destined for export for vesicular stomatitis, an infectious disease which affects several different animal species.
Such individual testing is a supplementary guarantee to protect Member States from the introduction of this disease since outbreaks of vesicular stomatitis have been notified by the United States. However, those outbreaks are sporadic and limited to certain areas.
Moreover, EU animal health import conditions follow the standards established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The US has today been added to the list of non-EU countries authorised to export live pigs into the EU (Annex I of Regulation EU (No) 206/2010).
The measure also provides for the transit of live pigs through the EU to their final non-EU country destination.
