The action has been taken to ensure that the proper controls are in place in companies and organisations involved in the production, processing and marketing of pork, according to the Russian veterinary authorities Rosselkhoznador.

During the first two weeks of September, members of the Office of Rosselkhoznadzor for Republic of Mordovia and the Penza region tested nine controlled organisations that are connected with the pigs and their products.

Five of them were found to breach the veterinary legislation.

During the inspections, the state inspector for the Penza region found cases of the purchase and sale of pork and processed products without accompanying veterinary documents.

In other cases, neglect of animal health rules and a lack of a specialist veterinary-sanitary examination were found at sites for the slaughter of pigs for meat and on farm.

At many of the facilities, the farm work was in violation of the veterinary legislation.

Rosselkhoznador said that there were concerns that the number of rules and regulations were too much for the average worker to understand, but the owners of the businesses had to organise their working practices so that they complied with the law.

And the authority added that because farmers, breeders, owners of meat processing plants and those engaged in the production of pork did not comply with the veterinary and sanitary rules, African Swine Fever was not just a problem for the area but for the whole region.

The veterinary authorities have now issued five orders demanding compliance with the regulations.

Meanwhile, tests by Rosselkhoznador on samples taken from a dead wild boar found in the Pesochnaya hunting area in Vazuza Gagarin district of Smolensk have confirmed another
case of African Swine Fever