Brussels, 07/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Romania is expected to export tens of thousands of tonnes (in the order of 100,000 tonnes a year) of pork meat as of next year, once the ban on exports to the countries of the European Union is lifted, the Romanian Agriculture Minister, Valeriu Tabara, stated on Tuesday 6 December. The standing committee on the food chain and animal health of the EU supported a proposed decision authorising the trade in pork meat originating in Romania to the other countries of the EU.
Romania was banned from exporting pork meat and derivative products in 2003, due to its use of vaccines to fight swine fever. This ban was extended in 2007.
Trade will now be possible from a “channelled system” developed in Romania, including selected pig farms, slaughterhouses and establishments that provide all necessary guarantees concerning bio-security, hygiene and surveillance for classical swine fever. The last outbreak of classical swine fever in Romania was detected in 2007 and, since the adoption of the decision of 3 November 2008 concerning animal health measures to fight classical swine fever in certain member states, including Romania, the epidemiological situation has improved considerably, the European Commission notes. (LC/transl.fl)