An ASF protection zone was established in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA announced plans on Aug. 26 to establish the protection zone following confirmed cases of ASF in the Dominican Republic. The federal order, which went into force on Sept. 16, is the final action in a series of safeguards needed to establish an ASF protection zone in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “In the coming weeks, APHIS will detail the actions taken to create the protection zone in a dossier, which will be submitted to the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health),” the agency said. “Once the dossier has been submitted to the OIE, APHIS will work to confirm that individual countries recognize and accept the zone(s). Their recognition will ensure the continued flow of US pork and live swine exports.” APHIS said that when the protection zone is established, the agency will have processes in place in to: • Prohibit movement of live swine and products out of the protection zone. • Conduct appropriate ...