Finland first announced African swine fever in its pork in July
Canada is restricting some imports of Finnish pork and related products due to African swine fever (ASF) in that country.
An Aug. 18 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notice indicates the measures are meant to “safeguard the health of Canada’s livestock and prevent the economic impact of a potential ASF outbreak in Canada.”
ASF can be devastating for a country’s pork sector.
Since 2018, for example, China has suffered direct and indirect losses of almost $207 billion CAD related to ASF.
As it pertains to Canada and Finland, the following restrictions are in place:
- Uncooked pork and raw inedible by-products from pork processed anywhere in Finland between June 24 and Aug. 11 are not eligible for import into Canada.
- Uncooked pork and raw inedible by-products from pork processed anywhere in Finland on or before June 23 can be imported without an import permit.
- Uncooked pork and raw inedible by-products from pork processed anywhere in Finland on or after Aug. 12 may be imported with a permit to import animal products and by-products.
Finnish officials announced the country’s first-ever case of ASF on July 30 after the virus was found in dead wild boars in Virolahti close to the Russian border.
Finland notified the World Organisation for Animal Health about the outbreak on July 31.
Since then, Canada, China, and Taiwan have taken import restriction measures.
Canada currently has ASF zoning agreements with multiple countries.
These agreements allow for trade to continue with disease-free regions of a country if another part of that country has an ASF outbreak.
Canada has these agreements with the U.S., Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and other nations.
Finland is not a major exporter of pork to Canada.
Annual Finnish pork exports to Canada average around $534,000.