U.S. Gains Permission to Once Again Export Live Swine to China

U.S. swine breeders have welcomed news that China is to lift its ban on live pigs from the United States pending H1N1 influenza testing.

U.S. swine breeders have welcomed news that China is to lift its ban on live pigs from the United States pending H1N1 influenza testing. "This is a tremendous announcement for our purebred swine breeders whose primary export market, before 2009, was China," said National Swine Registry CEO, Darrell Anderson.

China has been closed to U.S. swine since April 2009, following the discovery of H1N1 virus in humans in the United States.

The opening followed a request from the Veterinary Services of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service requesting acceptance of temporary testing for H1N1 in order to resume exports. Chinese Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine responded with a letter to APHIS, saying they had agreed to accept temporary health testing for H1N1 and, based on this protocol, trade for US-origin live swine can resume.

"We were watching some of our most important partners in China being forced to fill their swine needs with animals from Canada or elsewhere... In order to level the playing field, we knew the United States would have to implement testing as well in order to remain viable," said Anderson.

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