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A European Union committee has today authorised trade of Romanian pig meat within the EU. The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health saw member states give unanimous consent to a draft decision tabled by the Commission authorising the trade of Romanian pig meat.

Although Romania entered the EU in 2007, the country was hampered by classical swine fever; the situation has eased thanks to comprehensive control measures, with the last severe outbreak occurring in the year of its accession into the EU.

Romanian authorities said trade will be conducted through a "channelled system" at first. The system was developed in Romania as part of its disease control strategies. Meat will come from selected pig farms and slaughterhouses which provide all necessary guarantees concerning bio security, hygiene and surveillance for classical swine fever.

Following Romania’s assurances, on Tuesday, Animal health experts from all 27 EU member states agreed to allow trade of pig meat and meat products with selected enterprises in the country after EU officials judged that the classical swine fever situation in Romania had “largely improved”.

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