Catalonia, Mexico Discuss Steps to Resume Pork Trade

Catalonia President Salvador Illa met in Mexico City with Mexico’s Minister of Agriculture Julio Berdegué to discuss the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak detected in Catalonia and the technical measures required to resume pork trade between the two markets.

The meeting took place during Illa’s working visit to Mexico following the temporary suspension of Mexican pork imports from Spain. Illa said the emergency is being addressed“with maximum rigor and complete transparency and that Catalonia has reinforced all control and communication measures to ensure that information shared with Mexican authorities is truthful and complete.

He defended the work of the Catalan pork industry and asked Mexico to trust the work that is being done to protect animal health, food safety, support the sector, and overcome the emergency. Illa explained the actions taken by Catalan and Spanish authorities and said the region is keeping Mexico updated through official veterinary channels.

Berdegué stated that both governments aim to restart pork flows as soon as possible and without putting at risk the pork industry and wildlife in our country. He said Illa provided extensive information about the ASF detection in wild boars and the immediate containment measures taken.

The minister added that Mexico will handle the case strictly based on sanitary technical criteria, in accordance with national and international regulations. Both sides agreed that veterinary authorities in Mexico and Spain will maintain permanent direct communication as the outbreak develops and as sanitary conditions for trade resumption are evaluated.

SADER announced the suspension of imports after the detection of two wild boars that tested positive for the ASF virus, the first case in the European country since 1994. In addition to the Mexican measure, this led to the suspension of about 120 export sanitary certificates for various pork products to nearly 40 countries, including Russia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, the United States, the Philippines, and Japan.