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France to ban live pork imports

In order to protect its pork market from PEDv, France will become the first European Union country to ban imports of live pigs, pig byproducts, and pig semen from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.  Jean-Luc Angot, deputy director general and chief veterinary officer at the French farm ministry tells Reuters the threat of the disease is a concern because of the potential damage to the farm economy in Europe. The announcement is expect to come on Saturday.

While France is the first EU country to impose a ban, other major pork producing countries, like Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark were also interested and a EU wide ban.  However, if the virus continues to pose a threat – Angot says an EU-wide ban could be adopted.

France is not a significant importer of live pigs and semen, but it does import some feed containing big byproducts.

Because the disease does not pose a threat to humans, the ban does not include pork meat and other products for human consumption.