Poland lifts ban on Lithuanian pig imports

Poland has officially cancelled a ban on pig imports from the major part of Lithuania, Lithuania's Agriculture Minister announced on Tuesday.

"Yesterday I approached the Agriculture Minister of Poland, I talked to him once again, and today we have received a letter from the Poland's chief veterinary officer," Giedrius Surplys, Agriculture Minister of Lithuania, was quoted as saying in an announcement.

"I'm glad that a constructive dialogue has successfully helped find an agreement and renew the trade," said Surplys.

In December, Poland had imposed a ban on imports of pigs and pork from Lithuanian areas covered by African Swine Flu (ASF) red zones, a major part of the country's territory.

According to Lithuanian Agriculture Ministry, Lithuania's State Food and Veterinary Service has conducted additional checks of pigs from the areas affected by ASF.

"The Polish side is convinced that our pigs are safe," said the Lithuanian Agriculture Ministry in the announcement.

In recent years, Lithuania has been hard hit by ASF, affecting small as well as large local pig farms. ASF red zone covers North Eastern, Central and Southern territories in Lithuania.

According to the Lithuanian Food and Veterinary Service, the country saw 51 ASF cases with domestic pigs and 1,446 cases in wild last year, compared to 30 domestic cases and 1,328 cases in wild registered in 2017.