Ukraine bans pig imports from Mexico, Canada, US

The deputy head of Ukraine's state veterinary committee said Monday (April 27) the country had banned the import of live pigs and pork from Mexico, Canada, the US and New Zealand as fears grew of a swine flu pandemic, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency reports on its Web site.

He said the ban concerned all products imported from these states since April 21.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Monday a special group had been set up in the former Soviet republic to study issues connected with swine flu. There have been no reported cases in Ukraine, RIA Novosti said.