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Following the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Barcelona, Spain, Argentina's National Service for Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa) temporarily suspended imports of certain pork products, which could carry the virus, from the European country.
Following confirmation of the finding by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and its official communication to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Senasa reinforced sanitary prevention measures and controls of commercial cargo at ports, airports, and border posts to prevent the entry of goods, products, and by-products of porcine origin.
To safeguard Argentina's ASF-free status, in line with the sanitary alert - Resolution No. 564/2021 - issued by the national health agency and the current import requirements, only the entry of commercial pork products whose manufacturing processes guarantee the inactivation of the ASF virus will be authorized.
Permitted products include hams aged for at least 6 months, cooked products or salted casings (depending on pathogen inactivation treatment), and extruded or canned pet food.
All other pork products, such as salted pork, dried sausages, and raw hams aged for less than six months, pose a sanitary risk and are therefore prohibited. Furthermore, Senasa thoroughly inspects residues from aircraft and transcontinental ships arriving from countries where ASF is endemic, as this is one of the disease's transmission routes.
Together with preventing entry at borders, it is essential to strengthen biosecurity measures applied on pig farms, considering the productive and commercial impact that the entry of ASF would cause and the fact that there is no vaccine to control it. In the event of an entry of the virus, Senasa has a contingency plan- Resolution No. 275/23- to implement the necessary sanitary measures for containing and eradicating the disease.
It is not a zoonotic disease, meaning it is not transmitted to humans.
If any unusual clinical signs or health events are suspected in swine, particularly if there is increased mortality, skin lesions or reddening, high fever, or lethargy, Senasa should be notified immediately.
December 4, 2025/ Senasa/ Argentina.
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