African swine fever

Article 15.1.1.

General provisions

The pig and its close relatives are the only natural hosts for African swine fever virus (ASFV). These include all varieties of Sus scrofa, both domestic and wild, warthogs (Phacochoerus spp.), bushpigs (Potamochoerus spp.) and giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni). For the purposes of this chapter, a distinction is made between domestic pigs (permanently captive and farmed free-range pigs) and wild pigs (including feral pigs and wild boar) as well as between Sus scrofa and African pig species.

All varieties of Susscrofa are susceptible to the pathogenic effects of ASFV, while the African wild pigs are not and act as reservoirs of the infection. Ticks of the genus Ornithodoros are natural hosts of the virus and act as biological vectors of the infection.

For the purpose of the Terrestrial Code, the incubation period in Sus scrofa is 15 days.

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 15.1.2.

Determination of the ASF status of a country, zone or compartment

The African swine fever (ASF) status of a country, zone or compartment can only be determined after considering the following criteria in domestic and wild pigs, as applicable:

1. ASF is notifiable in the whole country, and all clinical signs suggestive of ASF are subjected to appropriate field and laboratory investigations;

2. an ongoing awareness programme is in place to encourage reporting of all cases suggestive of ASF;

3. the Veterinary Authority has current knowledge of, and authority over, all domestic pigs in the country, zone or compartment;

4. the Veterinary Authority has current knowledge about the species, population and habitat of wild pigs in the country or zone.

Article 15.1.3.

ASF free country, zone or compartment

1. Historically free status

   A country or zone may be considered free from ASF without formally applying a specific surveillance programme if Article 1.4.6. is complied with.

2. Free status as a result of an eradication programme

   A country or zone which does not meet the conditions of point 1 above or a compartment may be considered free from ASF when:

   1. there has been no outbreak of ASF during the past three years; this period can be reduced to 12 months when there is no evidence of tick involvement in the epidemiology of the infection;

   2. no evidence of ASFV infection has been found during the past 12 months;

   3. surveillance has been in place in domestic pigs for the past 12 months;

   4. imported domestic pigs comply with the requirements in Article 15.1.5. or Article 15.1.6.

   AND

   Based on surveillance, ASF infection has been demonstrated not to be present in any wild pig population in the country or zone, and:

   5. there has been no clinical evidence, nor virological evidence of ASF in wild pigs during the past 12 months;

   6. no seropositive wild pigs have been detected in the age class 6–12 months during the past 12 months;

   7. imported wild pigs comply with the requirements in Article 15.1.7.

Article 15.1.4.

Recovery of free status

Should an ASF outbreak occur in a free country, zone or compartment, the free status may be restored where surveillance has been carried out with negative results, either:

1. three months after the last case where a stamping-out policy is practised and in the case where ticks are suspected to be involved in the epidemiology of the infection, followed by acaricide treatment and the use of sentinel pigs; or

2. where a stamping-out policy is not practised, the provisions of point 2 of Article 15.1.3. should be followed.

AND

Based on surveillance, ASF infection has been demonstrated not to be present in any wild pig population in the country or zone.

Article 15.1.5.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries, zones or compartments

For domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of shipment;

2. were kept in an ASF free country, zone or compartment since birth or for at least the past 40 days.

Article 15.1.6.

Recommendations for importation from countries or zones considered infected with ASF

For domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of shipment;

2. were kept since birth or for the past 40 days in an ASF free compartment.

Article 15.1.7.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries or zones

For wild pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of shipment;

2. have been captured in an ASF free country or zone;

and, if the zone where the animal has been captured is adjacent to a zone with infection in wild pigs:

3. were kept in a quarantine station for 40 days prior to shipment, and were subjected to a virological test and a serological test performed at least 21 days after entry into the quarantine station, with negative results.

Article 15.1.8.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries, zones or compartments

For semen of domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the donor animals:

   1. were kept in an ASF free country, zone or compartment since birth or for at least 40 days prior to collection;

   2. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of collection of the semen;

2. the semen was collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.5. and 4.6.

Article 15.1.9.

Recommendations for importation from countries or zones considered infected with ASF

For semen of domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the donor animals:

   1. were kept in an ASF free compartment since birth or for at least 40 days prior to collection;

   2. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of collection of the semen and for the following 40 days;

2. the semen was collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.5. and 4.6.

Article 15.1.10.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries, zones or compartments

For in vivo derived embryos of domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the donor females:

   1. were kept in an ASF free country, zone or compartment since birth or for at least 40 days prior to collection;

   2. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of collection of the embryos;

2. the embryos were collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.7. and 4.9., as relevant.

Article 15.1.11.

Recommendations for importation from countries or zones considered infected with ASF

For in vivo derived embryos of domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the donor females:

   1. were kept in an ASF free compartment since birth or for at least 40 days prior to collection;

   2. showed no clinical sign of ASF on the day of collection of the embryos and for the following 40 days;

2. the embryos were collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.7. and 4.9., as relevant.

Article 15.1.12.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries, zones or compartments

For fresh meat of domestic pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the entire consignment of fresh meat comes from animals which:

1. have been kept in an ASF free country, zone or compartment since birth or for at least the past 40 days, or which have been imported in accordance with Article 15.1.5. or Article 15.1.6.;

2. have been slaughtered in an approved abattoir, have been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections in accordance with Chapter 6.2., and have been found free of any sign suggestive of ASF.

Article 15.1.13.

Recommendations for importation from ASF free countries or zones

For fresh meat of wild pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the entire consignment of fresh meat comes from animals which:

   1. have been killed in an ASF free country or zone;

   2. have been subjected to a post-mortem inspection in accordance with Chapter 6.2. in an approved examination centre, and have been found free of any sign suggestive of ASF;

and, if the zone where the animal has been killed is adjacent to a zone with infection in wild pigs:

2. a sample has been collected from every animal killed and has been subjected to a virological test and a serological test for ASF, with negative results.

Article 15.1.14.

Recommendations for the importation of meat products of pigs (either domestic or wild), or for products of animal origin (from fresh meat of pigs) intended for use in animal feeding, for agricultural or industrial use, or for pharmaceutical or surgical use, or for trophies derived from wild pigs

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the products:

1. have been prepared:

   1. exclusively from fresh meat meeting the conditions laid down in Articles 15.1.12. or 15.1.13., as relevant;

   2. in a processing establishment:

      1. approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes;

      2. processing only meat meeting the conditions laid down in Articles 15.1.12. or 15.1.13., as relevant;

OR

2. have been processed in an establishment approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes so as to ensure the destruction of the ASFV, and that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the product with any source of ASFV.

Article 15.1.15.

Recommendations for the importation of products of animal origin (from pigs, but not derived from fresh meat) intended for use in animal feeding and for agricultural or industrial use

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that these products:

1. have been prepared:

   1. exclusively from fresh meat meeting the conditions laid down in Articles 15.1.12. or 15.1.13., as relevant;

   2. in a processing establishment:

      1. approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes;

      2. processing only meat meeting the conditions laid down in Articles 15.1.12. or 15.1.13., as relevant;

OR

2. have been processed in an establishment approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes so as to ensure the destruction of the ASFV, and that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the product with any source of ASFV.

Article 15.1.16.

Recommendations for the importation of bristles (from pigs)

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that these products:

1. come from an ASF free country, zone or compartment; or

2. have been processed in an establishment approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes so as to ensure the destruction of the ASFV, and that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the product with any source of ASFV.

Article 15.1.17.

Recommendations for the importation of litter and manure (from pigs)

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that these products:

1. come from an ASF free country, zone or compartment; or

2. have been processed in an establishment approved by the Veterinary Authority for export purposes so as to ensure the destruction of the ASFV, and that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the product with any source of ASFV.