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Import Alert: Restrictions Imposed on Swine and Swine Commodities of Albania due to African Swine Fever
Issuance Date: March 1, 2024
7:55 AM U.S. Eastern
Effective date: February 10, 2024
Effective February 10, 2024, and until further notice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is restricting the importation live swine, swine germplasm, and unprocessed products and by-products from Albania. Importation of any of these commodities originating from or transiting Albania is prohibited, based on the diagnosis of African swine fever (ASF) in swine.
Until further notice:
Import of live swine and swine germplasm is prohibited.
Processed pork products and by-products imported from Albania as cargo must:
- Be accompanied by a VS import permit and/or government certification or both confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.
Processed pork products and by-products imported from Albania in passenger baggage must:
- Be shelf stable as a result of APHIS approved packaging and cooking (i.e., packed in hermetically sealed containers and cooked by a commercial method after such packing to produce articles that are shelf stable without refrigeration) OR
- Be accompanied by a VS import permit and/or government certification or both confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements.
Unprocessed pork products and by-products imported from Albania as cargo will not be permitted to enter unless:
- In some cases, swine products and by-products may be imported if consigned to a USDA approved establishment.
Unprocessed pork products and by-products entering/imported from Albania in passenger baggage will not be allowed to enter except for trophies:
- Fully taxidermy finished – allowed
- Not fully taxidermy finished - consigned to a USDA approved establishment
These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained. Current information can be found on the APHIS website.