
MADRID, Nov 29 (Reuters) - About one third of Spanish pork export certificates have been blocked after the first outbreak of swine fever for three decades, Spain's agriculture minister said on Saturday.
"Of the 400 export certificates to 104 countries, a third are blocked. We are working to open them as quickly as possible," Agriculture Minister Luis Planas told a press conference.
The virus, last recorded in Spain in 1994, was detected in six wild boar near Barcelona.
Planas said the value of the country's pork exports is 8.8 billion euros ($10.20 billion), of which 58% goes to the European Union.
He said exports to the EU were not affected except those which fell within a 20-kilometre zone near the source of the outbreak.
"Our task is to keep international markets open," he added.
Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia has barred access to a major natural park after six wild boar found dead near Barcelona tested positive for African swine fever.
The Collserola park was closed for all leisure activities and outdoor activities were restricted in 60 villages near the centre of the outbreak, the Catalan Agriculture Ministry said late on Friday.
Catalan authorities will deploy traps for wild boar and deploy police to enforce barriers to the area.
African swine fever is not harmful to humans but spreads rapidly among pigs and wild boar.
Taiwan was the latest country to announce restrictions on Spanish pork imports, when its agriculture ministry said on Saturday it had banned all pork products and live pig imports.
China has banned pork imports from Barcelona province, a Chinese Customs document seen by Reuters showed.
Britain on Friday said it would temporarily stop imports of pork meat from Catalonia. Mexico has suspended imports of pork products from Spain.
$1 = 0.8624 euros)
(Reporting by Graham Keeley, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Kirsten Donovan)
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Peloton recalls more than 800,000 bikes after broken seat posts injure users - 2
Astronomer captures 2 meteors slamming into the moon (video) - 3
Sophie Kinsella, 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' author, dies at 55 after battle with cancer - 4
The Manual for Well known rough terrain Vehicles - 5
Manual for 6 well known Amusement Park
A red meat allergy from tick bites is spreading – and the lone star tick isn’t the only alpha-gal carrier to worry about
Find the Interesting Universe of Computerized reasoning: the Capability of man-made intelligence
Five killed in Israeli air strikes on tents near Khan Younis, medics say
Where America’s CO2 emissions come from – what you need to know, in charts
The most effective method to Alter Your Savvy Bed for A definitive Rest Insight
Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication
From Certificate to Dollars: College Majors with Extraordinary Monetary Prizes
21 Things You Ought to Never Share with Your Childless Companion
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on something even Sherlock can’t solve: male grief












