The European Commission has decided to partially lift restrictions on pork exports from Catalonia following an outbreak of African swine fever. The largest production areas—Osona, Bages, and Segrià—are no longer subject to strict controls. This decision comes as a major relief for local farmers and businesses, who feared a complete shutdown of foreign markets.
The restrictions were imposed after new cases of the disease were detected among wild boars in the region. So far, nine cases have been confirmed, and about fifty more animal carcasses are awaiting laboratory tests. Despite this, the European Commission opted not to extend the ban to the entire region, limiting it only to the most affected municipalities.
Exports under threat
Previously, due to the African swine fever outbreak, several countries outside the European Union imposed bans on imports of Spanish pork. This jeopardized the operations of hundreds of businesses and thousands of workers in Catalonia. However, thanks to a new approach to targeted regional restrictions, exports from Osona, Bages, and Segrià can continue. This is especially important for companies focused on Asian markets, particularly China, which has accepted this format of limitations.
As a result, only 91 municipalities are now under restrictions, most of them located in Vallès Occidental, Vallès Oriental, and Baix Llobregat. Some of these municipalities do not even have pig farms, but they were included in the restricted zone due to their proximity to outbreak areas.
Impact on the Industry
This decision has been critical for Catalonia’s meat industry. Osona and Segrià are among the largest pork production centers in Spain. Maintaining exports has prevented mass layoffs and the shutdown of operations. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense: in Vic, the capital of Osona, Grupo Jorge has already announced the temporary suspension of 300 employees at one of its plants in Santa Eugènia de Berga.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture is continuing negotiations with other countries to reach similar agreements as with China. The goal is to avoid a complete closure of the Spanish pork market to foreign buyers and to minimize economic damage.
Outlook and Measures
Authorities in Catalonia and Spain have tightened controls on the spread of the virus. Municipalities in Barcelona and Lleida, as well as several other comarcas—including Barcelonès, Maresme, Alt Penedès, Anoia, and Bages—remain at risk. Additional sanitary measures have been implemented in these areas to prevent further spread of the infection.
As the situation develops, farmers and processors are closely monitoring new reports of possible cases. Any expansion of restrictions could lead to further economic losses and job cuts.
In case you didn’t know, Grupo Jorge is one of the largest pork producers and exporters in Spain, with facilities in various regions of the country. The company plays a key role in Catalonia’s economy and provides jobs for thousands of people. In recent years, Grupo Jorge has been actively expanding its exports, particularly to Asian countries, and is considered one of the industry’s leaders in implementing modern meat processing technologies.
