Switzerland joins embargo on Polish pork

Photo: Glowimages

The decision comes some two months after Russia froze all imports of pork from the EU, after cases of infected wild boar were disciovered in both Poland and Lithuania, near the Belarusian border.

“Although the disease is not a threat to humans, it could cause huge losses on pig farms in Switzerland,” a statement released by the country's Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office argued.

At present, the decision is valid until the end of April.

Switzerland has followed both Belarus and China in joining the embargo.

Meanwhile, Russia has blocked all imports of processed meats from Poland and Lithuania.

Poland's minister of agriculture Marek Sawicki is travelling to the Far East in May in a bid to consolidate emerging export markets, as well as to persuade China that it is safe to import Polish pork again, given that a buffer zone near the Belarusian border was created, isolating the risks.

The EU has claimed from the outset of the ASF crisis that Russia's response has been “disproportionate”, with Health Commissioner Tonio Borg arguing that in all likelihood, the outbreak occurred in Belarus, and not within the EU. (nh)

Source: IAR