SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The Dominican government has enacted an urgent prohibition on all imports of pork and related commodities from Spain in response to a confirmed African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak within the European nation. The decisive action was formally declared on Thursday by Abel Madera, Director of the General Directorate of Livestock (DIGEGA).
The preventative suspension was triggered by an official notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which verified the detection of the highly contagious viral disease in wild boar populations located in Spain’s Catalonia region on November 28. Although the Dominican Republic is not a primary market for Spanish fresh pork, authorities emphasized that the move is a critical safeguard to insulate the Caribbean nation’s domestic swine industry and territory from potential contamination.
Director Madera clarified that the comprehensive ban extends beyond fresh and frozen meat to encompass a wide range of products. This includes sausages, all other processed pork items, by-products, and genetic material. The restrictions will remain enforced until international and Spanish veterinary authorities can successfully contain the outbreak and provide certification that the threat has been entirely mitigated.
Madera further noted that the majority of the Dominican Republic’s imported pork supply is sourced from the United States, not Spain. To bolster this defensive measure, the nation is maintaining its stringent inspection protocols at all ports and airports, with heightened vigilance on agricultural shipments deemed high-risk. Technical teams from DIGEGA have been placed on high alert to intensify epidemiological surveillance efforts across local farms and production zones.