DK wants agreement on Swine Fever with China

African swine fever has been seen in Sweden and Germany, and this has caused concern for the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen. As a result he hopes to enter into an agreement with China for a regionalisation agreement that in the event of an outbreak of swine fever in certain areas, exports from uninfected zones could still be carried out. He points out that more than six billion kroner is exported annually to China, large amounts could potentially be lost if the infection were to hit, and China shut off completely. Jensen has just been to China, which is now considering whether to conclude an agreement. The minister himself is optimistic: “I think it looks very realistic. Things take time in China, and there are many others who need to be involved – authorities and ministries,” Jensen says. /ritzau/