China has banned the import of Mongolian pork and pork products

Chinese customs imposed a ban after Mongolia reported an outbreak of African swine fever in mid-January.

The paradox of the ban, which came into force on Tuesday, is that at the same time, China is fighting against the fastest-spreading epidemic in the world in its own territory. Since early August, the plague has spread throughout the 25 provinces of the PRC and resulted in the death of more than 900,000 pigs.

The new rule was introduced to prevent the death virus from entering China from Mongolia and spreading it throughout China, as well as to protect livestock, a statement published on the website of the General Administration of Customs of China said.

China believes that African swine fever entered the country from Russia through Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

China has banned imports of Mongolian pork, but meat is often smuggled into China, Reuters reports.

SOURCE: ARD