Swine fever controls stepped up in Balearics

The Balearic Ministry for Agriculture yesterday ordered the Guardia Civil to step up controls on pork being imported from Cataluña in the face of an outbreak of swine fever on mainland Spain. Balearic government sources said that the Agriculture Ministry and the central government delegation to the Balearics held talks yesterday morning and that all pork imports from Spain and Europe are being closely monitored by the Guardia Civil. The last batch of pork to be imported in Majorca was nine days ago and all the livestock was apparently taken straight to slaughter. Prior to that the only other recent import of pork was in May. But although controls have been stepped up, the Ministry was keen to stress that swine fever poses no threat to humans. All imports from the mainland are being halted because of the financial damage swine fever in the Balearics would cause.