Italy: Red zone extended to Langhirano due to swine fever; new export stops

The European Union's extension of the red zone to include Langhirano, a key area for Parma Ham production, due to an African swine fever (ASF) infected wild boar carcass, has significantly impacted the industry by halting exports to North America and adding to bans from other major markets like China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico. This development raises concerns for the Parma Ham industry, particularly regarding the safety of stored products and the economic repercussions of export restrictions. Despite the non-threat of ASF to human health, the lack of effective measures to control the spread of the disease among wild boar populations in Italy, highlighted by the absence of a vaccine and the failure to implement targeted culling, underscores the challenges in managing the outbreak and protecting the agricultural sector.