Russia has said it is suspending pig imports from the U.S. due to concerns about outbreaks of the deadly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, or PEDv.
The suspension takes effect on Friday, Russian state agricultural oversight agency Rosselkhoznadnor said in a statement.
"This disease is spreading over more and more territory of various countries including the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Japan," the agency said, adding it was concerned about the continued worsening of the situation in the United States.
A farm in the state of Indiana became the first to confirm publicly it suffered a second PEDv outbreak, fueling concerns the disease that has wiped out 10 percent of the U.S. hog population would be harder to contain than had been expected.
The Russian agency said it was halting imports "with the aim of preventing the disease from being brought into Russia." Russia normally receives substantial supplies of live pigs from the U.S., according to the agency.
It said U.S. pigs designated for export to Russia before Friday would be quarantined and tested in Russia.
The top importers of live pigs from the U.S. are China, Mexico and Russia, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the virus poses no risk to human health and is not a food safety issue.
See also:
Continuing Russian Ban on U.S. Pork Imports Costs Producers Millions of Dollars
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
