At the beginning of January African swine fever was detected in some wild boars in Piedmont. There is no risk of contagion from animal to human, but some countries have placed severe restrictions on imports of cured meats produced in Italy.
China, Taiwan, Japan, and Kuwait have imposed a stop on imports of Italian charcuterie. Brazil and Serbia now apply stricter safety protocols. The United States and Canada, however, have blocked imports only from areas directly affected by the outbreak of swine fever.
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Meanwhile, in Italy, the Ministries of Health and Agriculture have banned hunting, trekking, and mushroom picking in the affected areas.
Martin Knoll, director of the Speck Alto Adige PGI Consortium, says, “The export quota of Speck Alto Adige PGI is 33.5% and the most important countries in terms of export sales are Germany, France, the USA, and Austria. The raw material for Speck Alto Adige PGI is sourced mainly in Italy, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. All companies undergo strict controls by our Independent Inspection Institute”.