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NPPC applauds USDA’s ASF prevention measures

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says it’s pleased with additional measures announced today by the USDA to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) to the U.S. The NPPC says the risk of ASF is growing as outbreaks continue in China and other parts of Asia.

“U.S. pork producers are already facing headwinds in the form of trade disputes with key export markets; an outbreak of ASF would be devastating,” said NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a pork producer from Johnston, Ohio, quoted in a news release from the NPPC. “With no available vaccine, prevention is our only defense. We thank Undersecretary Greg Ibach and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for strengthening safeguards to protect our animals and the rural economy.” 

Prevention measures include coordination with Customs and Border Patrol to expand its so-called “Beagle Brigade” and arrival screenings at key U.S. airports and sea ports. Measures also include checking cargo for illegal pork products.

Additional ASF prevention measure include:

•        Ramped up inspections and enforcement of garbage feeding facilities to ensure fed garbage is cooked properly to prevent potential disease spread.

•        Increased producer awareness, including importance of self-evaluations of on-farm biosecurity procedures.

•        Research on accurate and reliable testing procedures to screen for the virus in grains, feeds and additives, and swine oral fluid samples.

•        Collaboration with officials in Canada and Mexico on a North American-coordinated approach to ASF defense, response and trade maintenance. •        Coordination with the U.S. pork industry leadership to assure unified efforts to combat ASF.

“These are good next steps,” added Heimerl. “We look forward to continued dialogue with USDA to do all that we can to keep ASF and other animal diseases out of the United States.”

African swine fever is an animal disease affecting only pigs. There are no human health or food safety risks from the swine disease.