June 8, 2007

Russia imposes restrictions on live pigs, pork from Georgia

Russia has imposed restrictions Thursday (June 7) on pork products and live pigs from neighbouring country Georgia due to African swine fever which caused the death of thousands of pigs in recent months.

Russia's agriculture oversight agency did not verify whether the restrictions mean an absolute ban and when the limitations would be lifted.

Georgia's agriculture ministry said that more than 20,000 pigs died of the disease in the past three months and that trade in pork meat had been banned in some affected parts of the country.

African swine fever, caused by a virus and spread from warthogs to domesticated pigs by ticks, is endemic in southwestern Europe and most of Southern Africa.