Japan’s agriculture minister says domestic pork supplies could be hit by the suspension of imports from Spain. This comes after African swine fever was detected in the European country last week.
Agriculture Minister Suzuki Norikazu said: “We have a strong sense of crisis that the risk of this entering Japan is rising. We will continue to take all possible prevention measures.”
The suspension of imports of Spanish pork and processed items began on Friday after the fever was found among wild boar.
No cases have been confirmed in Japan, and there is no effective vaccine.
The ministry says about 178,000 tons of pork were imported from Spain in the latest fiscal year. That made it Japan’s third-largest supplier, accounting for 18 percent of the total.
Suzuki said most of the supply was used for bacon, ham and sausages. He said such processed items could be hit especially hard.
