June 25, 2024

USDA-APHIS to recognise Tuscany and Umbria, Italy, as free of swine vesicular disease

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that it is in the process of recognising Italy's Tuscany and Umbria regions as free of swine vesicular disease.

This recognition is based on a risk assessment carried out by APHIS. It allows for live pigs, pork and pork products to be safely imported into the United States from Tuscany and Umbria, under the conditions of regulations.

Vesicular disease was completely eradicated from all of Italy as far back as 2019, but US regulations require that recognition be based on a risk assessment conducted directly by APHIS.

In 2003, following requests from the Italian government and the Meat and Cured Meats Industrial Association (ASSICA), APHIS recognised only the four regions (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Marche, and Valle d'Aosta) that remained free of vesicular disease. 

In December 2012 it recognised four more north-central regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Piedmont) and two autonomous provinces (Trento and Bolzano).

- The Federal Register