
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
Was This Driver Simply Having Some good times Or Behaving Like An Ass? - 2
Remain Fit: Powerful Wellness and Work-out Schedules for a Better You - 3
December’s full moon is the last supermoon of the year. Here’s what to know - 4
Climate engineering would alter the oceans, reshaping marine life – our new study examines each method’s risks - 5
Journeys That could only be described as epic: Delightful Voyage Lines All over the Planet
3 Must-Change Settings for iPhone Clients: Safeguard Yourself !
Top Pastry: What's Your Sweet Treat of Decision?
Hubble Space Telescope spies dusty debris from two cosmic collisions
Courageous Climbing: Trails and Stuff for Outside Lovers
Is an $85 apple pie worth it? Our Thanksgiving taste test says … maybe.
'Malcolm in the Middle' reboot releases 1st trailer, reuniting Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston: Watch here
Idris Elba is the king of the stress-watch
Cells have more mini ‘organs’ than researchers thought − unbound by membranes, these rogue organelles challenge biology’s fundamentals
Getting Your Youngsters' Future: Grasping Legacy Regulations













