Restrictions on Spanish pork exports: Current situation

The outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Spain on November 28 ended the country's disease-free status and led to various countries restricting imports of Spanish pork products.

In 2024, Spain exported pork products to a total of 104 destinations valued at €8.783 billion. Of this total, €5.096 billion (58%) went to EU countries. Despite the outbreak of the disease, these EU exports have been maintained, except for those from companies located within the infected area (20-km radius). Of the remaining €3.687 billion exported to third countries, €1.097 billion (12.5%) went to China, which maintains its imports by applying regionalization to the entire province of Barcelona. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom (3.69%), the United States (1.17%), and Hong Kong (0.4%), also maintain their imports by implementing EU regionalization.

As of December 11, according to the latest review by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture regarding restrictions or additional conditions imposed by third countries, countries that have reopened, albeit with restrictions, include:

• South Korea, which accounted for 3.60% of imports in value in 2024 (€316 million), recognized the EU-established regionalization on December 4.
• Cuba imported €29.7 million worth of goods in 2024. Although the country suspended imports of pork and pork products as of Wednesday, October 29, 2025, this restriction only affects the entire Autonomous Community of Catalonia. If there were an outbreak in another Autonomous Community close to the Catalonia border, it would also affect the neighboring Autonomous Community within a 10-km radius of the outbreak. Goods produced before October 29, 2025, that are already in ports ready for departure, or sailing to Cuba, will be authorized. Note: Because the certificates for Cuba require the exporting country to be free of disease, the requirements are being renegotiated to adapt them to the current situation so that establishments located in disease-free areas can export.
• Chile, which imported €21.8 million worth of products in 2024, announced on December 9 that it recognizes the EU-established regionalization, allowing pork products to be exported from disease-free areas if they were produced after December 4, 2025.

Other destinations, of lesser importance in terms of export value, include:

• Argentina lifted restrictions on certain products, such as cured pork products aged for at least six months and salted casings.
• Brazil suspended imports of products derived from the porcine species that have not undergone risk mitigation processes, in accordance with the provisions of the WOAH Code, produced after November 25, 2025.
• Colombia imposes restrictions on Spanish pork products that do not strictly comply with the provisions of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, particularly those set out in Article 15.1.2 on safe goods.
• Dominican Republic: According to information from the Spanish Ministry, as of December 10, the export of pork and pork products is permitted, with the exception of the province of Barcelona. Note: The new certificate recognizing regionalization is currently being negotiated and will be published as soon as it is available.
• New Caledonia: Imports of pork and pork products from non-restricted areas must be accompanied by the supplementary certificate.