Wedoany.com Report-Dec.5, On Wednesday, Britain announced it would resume pork imports from Spanish regions unaffected by African swine fever (ASF), lifting the full-country ban introduced last week after Spain reported its first ASF cases in over 30 years.

The decision brings Britain in line with the European Union's regionalisation policy, which limits trade restrictions to outbreak areas only. Imports of fresh pork and related products from the Barcelona area remain prohibited, while supplies from the rest of Spain may continue.

"Following an outbreak of African swine fever in Spain, all fresh pork and other impacted products from the region affected are restricted," a spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) stated in an emailed comment to Reuters. "Exports from disease-free areas of Spain can continue as normal," the spokesperson added, noting that authorities will keep monitoring developments.

Spain confirmed nine ASF cases in wild boar near Barcelona, leading to emergency containment measures in parts of Catalonia, a key pig-farming region. The virus is harmless to humans but almost always fatal to pigs and currently has no vaccine or treatment.

Spain is the European Union's top pork producer and an important supplier to Britain, having exported 37,600 tonnes of pork worth more than 112 million euros ($130 million) in 2025 up to the time of the outbreak.

The British decision follows a request from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for trading partners to maintain purchases from unaffected areas.

Earlier this week, China also adjusted its measures, limiting restrictions to Catalonia and allowing imports from the rest of Spain to resume.

Some countries, including Mexico and Canada, still maintain nationwide bans on Spanish pork, according to Spanish authorities.

A European Union veterinary task force began operations in Barcelona on Tuesday to support local efforts to control and contain the outbreak.