Mexico Suspends Spanish Pork Imports Due to African Swine Fever

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) reported that the Official Veterinary Services (SVO) of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Spain, notified the detection of two wild boars that tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) in the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona.

As a result of this case, the first confirmed in the European country since 1994, Mexico, through the National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA), decided to suspend all pork-origin product imports from Spain while it awaits updated animal-health information regarding the outbreak.

SENASICA emphasized that this decision aims to prevent animal-health risks to Mexico’s national pork industry. Therefore, pork meat, products, and byproducts such as hams or sausages, cured products, pork offal for human consumption, and raw materials used for pet food manufacturing are prohibited from entering the country. The agency highlighted that this measure applies both to commercial imports and to products carried by tourists, residents or Mexican nationals entering the country.

The Mexican Pork Producers Organization (OPORMEX) acknowledged Senasica’s work to safeguard animal health in Mexico. According to the organization, from January to October 2025, Mexico imported 1,689t of pork-derived products from Spain, representing only 0.06% of total pork imports. Therefore, OPORMEX stated that suspending Spanish imports does not pose a commercial or supply risk for Mexico.

According to the Ministry of Economy, in 2024 the main destinations for Mexican pork exports were Japan, with US$236 million; the United States, with US$60.2 million; South Korea, with US$16.3 million; Hong Kong, with US$485,000; and Singapore, with US$388,000. Moreover, the main exporters of pork to Mexico were the United States, which accounted for US$2.6 billion; Canada, with US$407 million; Brazil, with US$114 million; Spain, with US$5.32 million; and Chile, with US$5.05 million.

Regarding pork exports by state, Sonora led with US$263 million, followed by Jalisco with US$50.4 million and Sinaloa with US$384,000. Conversely, the states that imported the most pork from abroad were Nuevo Leon, with US$536 million; Jalisco, with US$482 million; Mexico City, with US$344 million; Sinaloa, with US$343 million; and Tamaulipas, with US$318 million.

During the first nine months of 2025, SENASICA rejected 1,065 commercial shipments from entering the country, preventing the introduction of quarantine-relevant pests and diseases that could threaten Mexico’s food production. The rejections were mainly the result of sanitary issues and administrative deficiencies. Common causes included failures in the cold chain, leading to spoiled goods and resulting food-safety risks, as well as inconsistencies or errors in the submitted documentation.