EU keeps interdiction on pork imports from Romania until December 2009

EU noted if measures against the swine fever will be performed correctly, the restriction might be lifted before December 2009. The interdiction on Romania to export pork products owing to pig plague led to losses of 250 million euros annually for producers, president of Romania Food Industry Federation, Sorin Minea previously had said.

Big producers in meat industry have an annual export capacity of 20 percent and shutting the door for them results in significant losses, Minea said.

Romania will soon present to the European Commission the plan for 2008 to fight the pig plague, ANSVSA head Radu Roatis said, underlining exports will be forbidden as long as there are still outbreaks. As much as 716 infection centers were discovered in 2006, affecting 35 counties.

At the beginning of August two swine fever outbreaks were recorded at two farms in the western county of Timis and 37,000 pigs were killed. Later in August a third swine fever outbreak was discovered in Timis at a farm belonging to U.S.-based Smithfield a few days after authorities allowed the company to slaughter healthy animals and distribute pork.