March 31, 2011
 

China welcomes live hog imports from the US

China is accepting live hogs shipped from the US again for the first time in two years, according to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 

The change in policy was made with no fanfare. The announcement was made via an update on APHIS's website this month by adding a "Temporary Attestation: Live Swine to China" document to the existing "Quarantine and Health Requirements" document, which dates to June 1995.

Historically, China/Hong Kong and South Korea have been tied as the third-largest export market for live swine from the US, with 3% of exported hogs from 1995-2008. Mexico is by far the largest export market, with 83% of live hogs sent to that country over the same period, followed by Canada at 4%.