The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has reminded those travelling to Ireland this Christmas to not risk bringing pork or pork products from areas affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).
In countries where ASF is present, it causes many challenges to pig production, contributing to economic losses, along with threatening food security and safe trade.
The disease first entered the EU in 2014, and has since been confirmed in: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece and Italy.
To date, the only countries within the EU to have successfully eradicated the disease are the Czech Republic and Belgium.
Ireland has never had a confirmed case of the disease, but pig owners and members of the public must continue to play their part.
ASF in Ireland
DAFM stated: “Diseases don’t respect borders. Keep African Swine Fever out of Ireland”.
“If you’re traveling this Christmas, don’t risk bringing pork or pork products into Ireland from areas affected by African Swine Fever. ASF is a viral disease of pigs that can result in devastating losses for pig farmers and the pig industry,” the department stated.
The ASF virus can survive for several months in pork and pork products such as sausages,
cured meats, smoked meats (meat or meat products can also carry other animal diseases
such as Foot and Mouth Disease).
It is illegal in Ireland to feed food waste which contains meat products or has been in contact with meat products to pigs.
The department advise to not bring meat or meat products onto Irish pig farms, and to always use a secure bin to dispose of waste food.
If visitors have been in contact with pigs in a region affected by ASF, it is advised that they do not visit any pig premises in Ireland for a minimum of 72 hours.