September 14, 2020

Japan bans German pork, pig imports following ASF confirmation

Japan has joined other countries in Asia to ban imports of pork and live pigs from Germany, which recently confirmed a case of African swine fever (ASF) in its eastern region.

Japan's agriculture ministry said that the suspension took effect on September 11.

China, the Philippines and South Korea also banned such imports after Germany said on September 10 that ASF had been discovered in a dead wild boar near its border with Poland.

40,240 tonnes of pork imports from Germany made up for 3.3% of Japan's overall pork imports of 1.2 million tonnes in 2019, the agriculture ministry said.

Japan did not import any live pigs last year, down from six in 2018.

- Reuters