February 29, 202

US pork industry urges ban on organic soy products from ASF-positive countries

The United States has so far prevented an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), and to ensure its swine herd remains free of the disease, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and 30 state pork producers' associations have asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to restrict imports of organic soy products for animal feeds from ASF-positive countries.

According to a Feed Risk Task Force organised by feed and pork industry organisations, there is risk of introduction of pathogens into and within the US via imported feed products.

The NPCC said that most soy products imported by the US are organic, over which it showed concern due to research findings that organic soy products can maintain the virus for longer periods of time, making holding times impractical for these products.

"While we are confident in the safety of domestic soy products, we urge [Agriculture] Secretary [Sonny] Perdue to use authority under the Animal Health Protection Act to restrict imports of organic soy products from ASF-positive countries to further safeguard our animals and prevent an outbreak that would have devastating, far-reaching economic consequences", said NPPC President David Herring, a hog farmer from Lillington, North Carolina.

It added that the US Department of Agriculture should even consider whether the same restriction should be taken on all other soy products.

NPPC and the 30 state pork associations also asked the USDA to enhance its online system that would be used for permitting animal movements if an outbreak occurred, and to expand state animal health laboratory testing capacity.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives approved a Senate legislation authorising funding for 720 new agricultural inspectors at land, air and seaports to prevent ASF and other foreign animal diseases (FADs) from entering the US.