The temporary suspension of pork imports from Spain, the recognition of European health regionalization schemes, and the strengthening of biosecurity measures in Chile underscore the global impact of animal diseases. In the face of African Swine Fever (ASF), readiness, public-private coordination, and a strong prevention culture are essential to safeguarding the health status and competitiveness of the Chilean pig sector.
The recent detection of ASF in Spain and the international reaction once again underscore an unavoidable reality: health threats are no longer local phenomena. In a highly interconnected world, these events cross borders, disrupt trade flows, and demand timely, coordinated responses grounded in a holistic approach.
This scenario clearly reflects the One Health approach, which recognizes the interdependence among animal, human, and ecosystem health. Chile has progressively incorporated this approach into its sanitary management. Prevention goes beyond disease control to become a long-term economic, productive, and social strategy.
Although ASF is not a zoonosis and does not pose a risk to human health, its entry into a country such as Chile could have serious consequences for the pork sector. Maintaining the country’s health status, along with strict biosecurity standards, is not just a technical requirement but also a strategic asset for a highly mechanized, export-oriented industry with a significant presence in international markets. Chile’s biosecurity is key to the stability of its agri-food system.
In recent years, ASF has spread across Asia and Europe, causing severe disruptions to international markets. In November 2025, Spain officially notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) of its first outbreak in more than 30 years, detected in wild boars in the province of Barcelona. To date, five outbreaks and 13 cases have been confirmed, all within a 20-kilometer infected area, albeit with no presence on pig farms.
Spain voluntarily suspended certification for meat and pork products exported to more than 40 markets while it determines the scope of the outbreak. This is a high-impact decision, given that Spain is one of the world’s leading pork exporters.
Chile’s temporary suspension of Spain’s pork imports—which account for about 2% of total pork imports—was a preventive measure proportionate to the risk and in line with international standards. Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) also established a 30-day safeguard period, equivalent to two virus incubation cycles, applicable to shipments containing raw materials produced from October 28 onward until the European Union officially determined the corresponding zoning.
On December 9, Chile updated the measure to account for the EU’s health regionalization, allowing imports of pork-based products from ASF-free zones produced after December 4, 2025. It also authorized the entry of products manufactured before October 28. The suspension remains in place for fresh meat, meat products, raw processed products, entrails, and pork by-products produced between October 28 and December 3 that haven’t undergone risk mitigation treatments. Thermally processed products continue to be authorized in accordance with current international veterinary certificates.
Border prevention and health culture
Beyond formal trade, one of the main risks of ASF outbreaks stems from the informal transport of pork products by travelers. SAG has therefore reinforced inspections at Santiago International Airport, focusing on travelers arriving from Europe or with connections in the continent. Any pork product of Spanish origin or lacking adequate labeling to verify its origin is intercepted and destroyed to prevent the entry of hazardous products.
This is part of an awareness campaign held every summer at Chile’s main airport, given the seasonal increase in passenger traffic. However, the latest campaign was launched early and stepped up in response to the health situation in Spain to prevent the entry of exotic diseases, such as ASF.
This border deployment is complemented by other reinforced health measures implemented by SAG, including ongoing domestic surveillance of farms, slaughterhouses, livestock markets, and production units, as well as active inter-institutional coordination with Chilean Customs, port authorities, airlines, and the private sector to minimize the risk of the virus entering the country.
This preventive approach is especially relevant. As Juan Carlos Domínguez, president of ChileCarne, points out, “The main risk of ASF entering our country is associated with pork-based products brought by travelers or imported.” He emphasizes that “It is critical to strengthen controls and communicate a clear message regarding the prohibition of bringing food that could compromise Chile’s health assets,” underscoring the importance of maintaining strict biosecurity measures, as Chile has done thanks to SAG’s timely intervention.
Alongside internal prevention measures, SAG and the pig sector have focused on strengthening international health talks to advance zoning agreements with the relevant authorities in destination countries for Chilean pork exports. This work is especially relevant given that more than 80% of pork export value is concentrated in the Asian market, which has strict health requirements. Validating approaches based on regionalization and risk analysis not only helps safeguard trade continuity amid localized health events but also strengthens the global credibility of the Chilean health system.
Biosecurity as a competitive advantage
Although the temporary suspension of imports from Spain may prompt adjustments in international markets and create limited opportunities for the Chilean sector in destinations such as China, South Korea, or Japan, the strategic focus must remain on prevention. Trade flows tend to adjust over time; however, the loss of a health status would have deeper, longer-lasting, and more difficult-to-reverse consequences.
Chile’s biosecurity is based on a robust regulatory framework led by SAG, which sets mandatory standards for both the pig industry and backyard farming. The Official Biosecurity Standard for the pig sector, issued on November 30, 2025, and mandatory since that date, represents a significant advance in the country’s and the sector’s health management. The instrument systematizes requirements for the control, prevention, and management of health risks, strengthening surveillance, shared responsibility, and preparedness against emerging threats, while consolidating biosecurity as a structural pillar of the sector’s productive and export growth.
On this basis, the Chilean pork sector has built its international positioning on high standards of biosecurity, traceability, and health compliance. Preventive actions, ongoing monitoring, and public-private coordination not only meet technical requirements but also reflect the national commitment to protecting the agri-food system and positioning Chile as a reliable supplier of world-class food.
In a global context where a health emergency on another continent can have immediate impacts, strengthening the culture of prevention is no longer optional but a strategic necessity. Protecting Chile’s animal health asset ultimately safeguards its competitiveness, productive growth, and international prestige.
