SWINE FEVER IMPORT BAN

Namibia has slapped a
ban on the importation of
all live pigs and raw pork
and its products from SA
following the detection
of African swine fever
(ASF) about mid-June
on two farms, one near
Schweizer Reneke in
North West and the
second near Koffiefontein
in the Free State.
It’s a deadly
haemorrhagic fever for
domestic pigs, although in
all other species the virus
causes no obvious disease.
But, according to two
people in the know in the
meat export industry,
no other countries
have followed suit with
bans, except Swaziland.
But this seemed like
an instant knee-jerk
reaction, because,
according to Brent
Fairlie, CEO of New
Style Pork, permits again
became available almost
immediately.
Nor are any other
countries or trading
regions likely to
introduce bans, with
all having trust in SA’s
compartmentalisation
procedure.