Hong Kong tightens controls on pork imports to prevent contamination

ASF outbreaks in CHINA have caused serious damage to the country's pig industry, leading to a reduction in pig numbers and rising prices. As a result, not only Chinese but also global markets suffered. Although the peak of the outbreaks has passed, precautions are being taken in both China and Hong Kong.

The new ASF monitoring system is complex and will take time for importers to get used to it. However, Russian pig farmers are increasingly showing interest in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the first ever deliveries of pork to China are planned for January 2023 , and deliveries were previously made to Vietnam and Indonesia. It is expected that in 2023 the volume of Russian pork exports will be 250 thousand tons, and after the opening of the Chinese market it may well reach 400-500 thousand tons per year.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease of pigs that causes a severe form of hemorrhagic fever. The ASF virus is very stable in the external environment and can be transmitted through contact with infected animals or their products, as well as through contaminated feed, water and care items.

Precautionary measures for the prevention of ASF:

Compliance with biological safety rules in pig farms.
Regular vaccination of pigs against ASF.
Strict controls on the import of pork and pork products from countries where ASF outbreaks have been reported.
Thorough heat treatment of pork before eating.
Disinfection of premises and equipment in pig farms and pork processing plants.