April 26, 2004

France And Spain Classified 'Free Of Classical Swine Fever'
 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations to recognize France and Spain as regions free of classical swine fever (CSF). Eradicated from the United States in 1978, swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects swine.

France and Spain are now among the regions within the European Union which are recognized as being free of CSF in April 2003. APHIS has recognized the following countries as CSF-free: Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and most of Germany and Italy.

Breeding swine, swine semen and pork and pork products could be imported from CSF-free regions under certain conditions. They must not have commingled with animals and animal products from which the disease had occurred. These animals and products are still subject to additional restrictions if other foreign swine diseases of concern to the United States are present.