Ban on pork imports is partially lifted as foot-and-mouth disease fears subside

The ban on pork imports, imposed on all EU countries in February of this year due to foot-and-mouth disease, was lifted from nine countries yesterday. Those countries are Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, Portugal, Norway, Italy and Lichtenstein. Nevertheless, the chief veterinarian's office reported that the ban will still apply to six other countries because of ongoing problems either with foot-and-mouth-disease or swine fever. No bacon will be making its way over from Great Britain, Ireland, France and the Netherlands, which are still reporting many cases of foot and mouth. A separate ban of pork imports imposed on Germany and Spain also remains valid due to outbreaks of swine fever there. The ban on imports of beef products and livestock from most of Europe, arising from the mad cow disease scare, still remains in place. (Reuters)