Public health officials including USDA, the World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have been very diligent in reassuring consumers about the safety of pork, and this appears to have been effective in limiting the spread of any unfounded food safety concerns in the United States. Health officials in many overseas markets have taken similar action, mitigating any adverse consumer reaction toward pork or pork imports. An excellent example of this action occurred in Japan, the leading market for U.S. pork exports in terms of both value and volume. Japan’s farm minister has reassured the public that handling and consumption of pork does not pose a risk to health or safety, and that a ban on pork imports is not necessary.

“We have seen a mixed reaction in the overseas markets, with the majority of our trading partners handling the situation very responsibly,” said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “On the other hand, the market access suspensions that have been imposed are very disappointing because they are not based on any facts or scientific evidence. We will be working closely with each of those countries to limit the length and scope of these suspensions.”

Market closures

At the present time, only Russia and China have officially notified FSIS officials of changes in their market status. However, unconfirmed reports of market closures in a number of other countries have been released through a mix of news reports, industry communications and agency announcements.

USMEF will summarize the official suspensions below while placing the other countries on an unofficial “watch list” that will be updated as official information becomes available:

Russia, effective April 21:

2.)   Suspension of non-heat treated pork from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Florida, as well as from the countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador.

Additional notes:

• Documents from Russia define "heat-treated" as "80ºC for at least 30 minutes."
• Effective April 26, Russia also banned "passenger baggage" and catering materials from all species including heat-treated products from the states of Texas, California, Ohio, New York, and Kansas. This ban is for passengers luggage and in-flight catering of aerial vehicles and sea vessels arriving from (or those that visited or landed in airports in) these states.
• So far, Russia and Jordan (below) are the only countries to extend restrictions to meat other than pork

China, effective April 26:

Suspension of all pork and pork product imports from California, Texas, Kansas, New York and Ohio, as well as Mexico.

“Watch list” of countries that have been reported as ready to impose full or partial suspensions:

Philippines: all pork from the entire United States and Mexico.

Thailand: pork and swine genetics from entire United States and Mexico.

Kazakhstan: pork from California, Texas Kansas, Ohio and New York, as well as Mexico and other nations in the region.

Ukraine: pork from entire United States.

Indonesia: all pork from outside its borders.

Serbia: all pork from North America.

Bahrain: pork from the United States.

United Arab Emirates: pork from several countries, including the United States. It remains unclear whether transshipments will be allowed.

Jordan: all meat from the United States and Mexico.

Guatemala: pork and live pigs from the United States and Mexico.

South Korea: no trade suspensions, but Korea has increased screening and inspection of pork from the United States and Mexico.

For those suspensions involving selected states, it is not yet clear how product origin will be determined. USMEF is seeking further information on whether these suspensions will be based on the animal’s origin, point of slaughter, transport and shipping, or some combination of these factors, and will post this information as soon as it can be clarified.

via USMEF