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US, Canada agree on trade in case of ASF

The US and Canada are amending their export certificates to allow the trade of swine and pork products in the event of an African Swine Fever outbreak.

USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach says trade would be allowed to continue between the two countries in approved, disease free zones much like current trade agreements for poultry.

“In the poultry industry we have outbreaks of low path AI (Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza) that result in trade implications, but because of regionalization agreements we are able to keep those at the county level in many cases, sometimes at the state level to those export restrictions.”

Ibach testified in front of the House of Representatives, saying in the event of an ASF outbreak trade will depend on early diagnosis, ability to contain the disease and the ability to assure trading partners the US understands the nature of the spread of ASF.