Ecuador to lift pork import ban on US, Mexico

Ecuador will lift a ban on imports of pigs and pork products from the US and Mexico that was imposed as a precaution against the AH1N1 flu virus hitting both countries, government officials said on Thursday (May 7).

Health ministry spokesman Gonzalo Pinto said a ministerial committee decided to scrap the suspension after world health authorities made clear the AH1N1 virus is not transmitted by eating pork.

Last week Ecuador banned imports of pigs and pork products from Mexico and the US. Officials said the Andean country, southern US, imports around 100 tonnes of pork from the US every year.

Animal health official Alex Andrade said authorities will set stricter controls on pigs entering the country.

Mexico has complained over travel restrictions and pork import bans imposed by several countries trying to prevent the virus from entering their borders.