Spain Records Largest Outbreak of African Swine Fever in 30 Years

In Catalonia, one of the key regions for pig farming in Spain, an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) among wild boars near Barcelona has recently been reported. This marks the largest outbreak of the disease in the last three decades.

This is reported by AgroReview

Emergency Measures in Catalonia

The Spanish authorities have swiftly implemented emergency measures to contain the virus in the region. Spain remains the largest producer of pork in the European Union, with the country’s pig farming industry valued at 8 billion euros. For over 30 years, since 1994, the country has employed effective protective measures that have prevented the infection of domestic pigs with African swine fever.

“Spain is the largest producer of pork in the European Union, and since 1994 has managed to avoid the infection of domestic pigs with the virus.”

Impact on Exports and Restrictions from the United Kingdom

Following the news of the ASF outbreak, the UK government announced a temporary suspension of imports of fresh pork and some other Spanish products, which will now be subject to delays at border control. The United Kingdom is one of the main markets for Spanish pork.

In 2025, Spain had already exported 37,600 tons of fresh and frozen pork to the United Kingdom, totaling over 112 million euros. This represents a 17% increase in volume and a 9.5% increase in value compared to the entire year of 2024.