OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus imposed a temporary ban on the import and transit of pork from Poland, the department of veterinary and food supervision of the Belarusian Ministry of Food and Agriculture reported.

According to the source, the move was prompted by the information of the World Organization for Animal Health on ASF cases in Poland.

“On February 20 Belarus temporary restricted the import and transit of live hogs, pork, including meat of wild boar, by-products, leather, offal products, hunting trophies obtained from the susceptible species of animals, feed made from raw materials originating from Poland. The ban also applies to the second-hand equipment for maintenance and slaughter of hogs,” the source said.

The department of veterinary and food supervision insists on the need for additional control measures to ensure biological safety of large hog-breeding farms and also the farms of all types of ownership. Besides, the department emphasized the need to prevent the import of pork and processed products by natural persons for personal use.

African swine fever is a contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild swine. The disease is transmitted via direct contact and products made of pork. No vaccine is available. The animals suspected to have the disease are slaughtered. The disease does not affect humans.