Today, Friday, June 21, China said that due to the first outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Laos, which Vietnam reported on June 20, it prohibits direct and indirect imports of pigs, wild boars and related products from this country.

A statement by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China states: "Illegally imported pigs, wild boars and their products from Laos, intercepted by the border departments of defense, must be destroyed under customs supervision."

As ASF spread throughout Asia, the Laos Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the first outbreaks of the disease, fatal to pigs and wild boars but not harmful to people, in the south of Saravan province.

According to the ministry, in the province over 970 animals have already died from this disease. On Thursday, June 20, said the Paris World Organization for Animal Health.

Since August 2018, African swine fever has spread rapidly throughout China, and this year also in Vietnam and has already reached Laos.

China, which has the largest pig population in the world, today reports more than one hundred and twenty outbreaks of African swine fever.