Thailand
Brazilian pork given access to Cambodian market amid ASF outbreak
Cambodia has opened its market to pork produced in Brazil, according to an announcement from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.
Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein, noted that Cambodia is an emerging hog producing nation but has recently been impacted by cases of ASF [African Swine Fever]. In this context, Brazil can establish itself as a solid partner to complement local demand to help ensure the food security of the Cambodian population.”
Khmer Times reported last week that at least 30 pigs were culled in Banteay Meanchey province after officials detected that animals illegally imported from Thailand were infected with ASF.
Cases of ASF first emerged in the Kingdom in 2019 via swine imported from Vietnam. At least 4,000 pigs were culled or succumbed to the illness in Ratanakiri, Tboung Khmum, Svay Rieng, Takeo and Kandal provinces, according to the World Organization for Animal Health.
The UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (UNFAO) reported at the time that 1,000 pigs had died and a further 800 were culled.
At the peak of 2019’s outbreak, pork consumption decreased, with some vendors saying they made about one-third of their normal sales volumes during that time.
Pork is the second most popular protein in Cambodia behind fish. Local demand for live pigs is about 8,000 hogs daily. While ASF can be lethal to pigs, there have been no recorded instances of transmission to humans via consumption.
Global meat exports increased by four percent in 2019 over 2018, primarily due to the ASF outbreak according to the UNFAO. The EU, Argentina, Canada, Thailand and the US recorded much of that growth in global meat exports in 2019.
UNFAO forecasts that meat consumption will increase over the next decade by 12 percent, although pork output will remain subdued during the first five years of its 2020 to 2029 outlook period due to the ASF outbreaks, in China and Vietnam in particular.
Brazil has already established itself as a strong exporter of beef and sees opportunity in the Asian region’s insatiable appetite for pork in further bolstering its meat exports.
Santin noted that sustained sales to Asia, especially to destinations impacted by the African Swine Fever health crises, will contribute to the projection of pork exports rom Brazil reaching one million tons to the region in 2021.
Khmer Times reported on Monday that the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries’ (MAFF) General Directorate of Animal Health and Production has arranged for all pigs imported from Thailand to be tested for ASF
MAFF said last year 1,800 to 2,000 live pigs were imported from Thailand to Cambodia on a daily basis to meet domstic demand.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50822756/brazilian-pork-given-access-to-cambodian-market-amid-asf-outbreak/