December 29, 2020

Japan agrees to regionalisation ban for Hungarian pork imports

Hungary's Agriculture Ministry said Japan has agreed to permit Hungarian pork imports from areas unaffected by African swine fever (ASF), the first country to reach an agreement with Japan, Hungary Today reported.

The agreement was signed on December 16, following two years of negotiations with Lojos Bognar, Hungary's chief veterinarian and supported by Hungary's embassy in Tokyo.

Following the discovery of ASF in northern Hungary, Japan, Taiwan, Serbia, South Korea, and Singapore have imposed a temporary ban on pork and pork product imports from Hungary. Serbia's ban includes live swine.

Norbert Erdos, Hungary's state secretary for food oversight, said the agreement puts domestic swine farmers at an advantage and recognizes the work of Hungary's veterinarian professionals in containing ASF.

- Hungary Today