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FAO and USDA Join Forces to Contain African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic
African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting pigs, capable of wiping out entire herds and threatening livelihoods across the livestock sector. When the Dominican Republic confirmed the presence of ASF in 2021 — the first detection in the Western Hemisphere in over 40 years — the risk extended far beyond the country’s borders, raising concern across the Americas.
In response, the Government of the Dominican Republic launched a National Swine Biosecurity Plan with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United States Department of Agriculture’s...
USDA Partnership Tackles ASF Risks in Global Feed Supply Chain
Imagine a disease so devastating that it could wipe out entire pig farms, cripple a major agricultural industry and impact the food supply for countless families. This is the reality of African swine fever virus, a global animal health threat that has caused immense damage in other parts of the world.
According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Information Service, if ASFV entered the United States, it would:
Halt U.S. pork and pork product exports
Drop hog prices by up to 50%...
US Pork Secures Taiwan Access After Decades-long Effort
In a key win for U.S. pork producers, President Trump has finalized a beneficial trade agreement with Taiwan, a direct result of the National Pork Producers Council’s long-fought effort to secure greater market access in the Asian nation.
“Our 15-plus year endeavor to break down trade barriers in the high-value market of Taiwan has paid off. This means more U.S. pork on international tables and more opportunities and prosperity for American producers,” said NPPC President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio. “Thank you, President Trump and Ambassadors Greer and Callahan, for ensuring American pork producers were included in...
USDA: Help Protect the USA from African Swine Fever
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invites U.S. swine producers, small farms, and pig owners to participate in the “I Protect Pigs” Photo Contest as part of this year’s Protect Our Pigs campaign. The campaign, in its fifth year, reinforces steps all pig owners can take to help protect our nation’s swine industry from deadly animal diseases like African swine fever (ASF). This year’s photo contest gives participants an opportunity to highlight how they help this effort on an individual basis...
Import Alert: Import Restrictions on Taiwan Due to African Swine Fever
As of the effective date listed above, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is restricting the importation of porcine commodities from the region listed above due to African swine fever (ASF).
Porcine (pork, swine, or pig) commodities originating from or transiting the region are subject to ASF-related import restrictions, such as those summarized below. Specific restrictions can differ by region and change as additional epidemiologic information becomes available. Details of region-specific import restrictions will be available through the Veterinary Services (VS) Permitting Assistant within a few weeks...
China Confirms African Swine Fever Outbreak in Sichuan
China has reported 210 confirmed and 795 susceptible cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Napo County, in the Sichuan Province, a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) report showed.
The Guangxi Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported the outbreak on July 25. "Following the outbreak, local authorities immediately implemented emergency response measures in accordance with the contingency plan, including lockdowns of infected and threatened areas, culling of pigs, harmless disposal, and disinfection,” the Department said.
As of time of reporting, inspections found no new cases...
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