February 4, 2005

Russia imposes limits on Italian pork

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phitosanitary Inspection has imposed restrictions on pork imports from the Italian region of Ambruzzo, unless raw pork undergoes a special thermal treatment.

"These restrictions also cover the imports of live swine and pig sperm from Ambruzzo, as cases of swine vesicular disease are spreading in Italy," they said.

"This is one of the most dangerous animal diseases, and no cases of it have been registered in the Russian Federation over the past 30 years," the sources indicated.

International veterinary sources say the swine vesicular disease may have low morbidity rates in herds but high rates when the pigs are in pens.

The infection spreads fast via animals' excrements and can be carried over by contaminated vehicles. Its incubation period is short enough and lasts from two to seven days.

Besides a group of European countries, cases of the disease have been reported in the past in Hong Kong and Japan.