USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Inspection Service) on 27th April opened the US market to the importation of short-seasoned pork and pork products from some Italian Regions, such as Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Piemonte and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano.
This is due to the review of the documentation submitted by the Government of Italy, regarding the absence in those Regions of SVD (swine vesicular disease). APHIS strictly controls the importation of animals and animals products, in order to prevent the introduction of various communicable diseases in US.
This Rule shall apply from 28th May 2013.
It’s a great news from the Italian companies, commented ASSICA (Association of Italian meat and salami producers), because it could lead to the fall of other similar trade barriers (for instance in China, Brazil or Austalia).
Workabeba Yigzaw, a USDA public affairs specialist, talking to The Huffington Post, said:
“In terms of importation, this rule means that pork and pork products from the identified regions in Italy will now be approved for import into the United States, because those areas are now recognized as free of SVD. They are no longer required to be cured for 400 days, per the previous regulations that were in place to mitigate for SVD. They will still have to meet the export requirements, such as coming from a facility that has been approved by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).“
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