Swine Vesicular Disease, Portugal

December 24, 2003

Impact Worksheet

Summary:   Portugal reported to the OIE an outbreak of swine vesicular disease (SVD) on a farm in the Leiria district (highlighted green on map), Beira Litoral region on December 22, 2003.  The last reported outbreak of SVD in Portugal occurred in September 1995. 

In 2002, Portugal ’s total production of pig meat accounted for approximately 0.4 percent of world production and its exports of live pigs and pig meat ranged between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of total world exports.  The US did not import live pigs or pig meat from Portugal from 2002 through October 2003.  The US did, however, import a relatively small amount of pig products used for sausage casing from Portugal over the past several years. 

Slaughter of pigs on the affected premises and restrictions on the movements of pigs on adjacent premises are being used to control the outbreak. 

How extensive is swine vesicular disease in Portugal , and what was Portugal ’s disease status prior to the outbreak?

The current SVD outbreak in Portugal is limited to one farm containing 1,754 pigs.  There was no movement of pigs from the affected premises during the 30 days prior to the observance of clinical signs.  The premises was quarantined on December 17, 2003 and depopulation was initiated on December 19, 2003.  In addition, 346 pig farms that lie within a 10 kilometer radius of the affected premises were also quarantined. 

Other protective measures include disinfecting all vehicles that transport pigs in Portugal and serologic testing of swine earmarked for export.

While the USDA regards Portugal to be free of SVD, it considers Portugal to be in a special category with respect to this disease because Portugal ’s foreign trade practices may increase the risk of introducing SVD into Portugal . 

Source: OIE Disease Information Report, December 23, 2003; USDA-Import Products List of Animal Health Status

What is Portugal ’s place in the international market for swine and swine products?

Portugal ’s stock of live pigs was reported to be approximately 2.4 million head in 2002, representing about 0.3 percent of world stocks for that year.  During 2002, the number of slaughtered pigs and the tonnage of pig meat product represented 0.4 percent of world production.  

Table 1: Swine Stocks and Production, Portugal , 2001 - 2002

Swine Production	2001	2002
			% of World Production
Live swine (# head)	2,338,000	2,389,000	0.3
Slaughtered (# head)	4,830,309	4,800,000	0.4
Pig meat (mt)	343,000	340,000	0.4

Source: United Nations FAO

During 2001, Portugal exported about 29,000 live pigs and 17.8 metric tons of pig meat, representing 0.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively, of world exports for these products.  In value, Portugal ’s proportion of world exports in 2001 also ranged between 0.2 and 0.3 percent. 

Table 2:  Exports of live animal and animal products, Portugal , 2000 - 2001

Exports	2000		2001		% of World in 2001
	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)	Quantity (# head or mt)	Value (1000 $)
Live swine exports	19,148	2,743	29,171	4,841	0.2	0.3
Pig meat exports	14,992	21,334	17,800	29,545	0.3	0.2

Source: United Nations FAO

What are the U.S. imports of swine or swine products from Portugal ?

Neither the US , Canada , or Mexico imported live pigs or pig meat from Portugal between 2002 and October of 2003.  The US did, however, import prepared hog guts, bladders, and stomachs used for sausage casing from Portugal over the January 2002 – October 2003 time period.

Table3:  U.S. imports of swine or swine products from Portugal , 2002 - October 2003

Product	2002		2003 (Jan. – Oct.)
	$value (million)	quantity (kg)	$value (million)	quantity(kg)
Swine product prepared for use as sausage casing	1.064	222,118	0.822	166,531

Source: World Trade Atlas

What is the level of passenger traffic arriving in the United States from Portugal ?

In fiscal 2000, a total of 188,603 passengers arrived in the US from Portugal on direct flights; however, some of these passengers may not have originated their travel in Portugal .  Of these, 86,333 (45.8 percent) arrivals in the U.S. reported Portugal as their country of residency.

As part of APHIS-PPQ’s agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring, 275 air passengers whose travel originated in Portugal were sampled for items of agricultural interest in fiscal year 2002.  Of these passengers, 12 were found to be carrying a total of 29.9 kg of pork products.  None of the passengers carrying pork products reported plans to visit or work on a ranch or farm while in the U.S.

Source: APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Quarantine Inspection database

CEI’s plans for follow up:

CEI will continue to monitor the situation but has no plans at this time to issue additional reports.  If you need more information or if you want to comment on this worksheet, you may reply to this message, or contact Wolf Weber (970) 494-7222 or Kathy Orloski at (970) 494-7221.