The disease detected in Catalonia has forced the suspension of exports to 40 countries
14ymedio, Havana, November 29, 2025 — The outbreak of African swine fever in groups of Catalan boars has forced the Spanish government to suspend 120 health certificates for the export of various pork products to 40 countries, including Cuba. The ban covers meat and pork products, sausages, hams, pig fat, offal, genetic material, semen, breeding pigs, feed materials, piglets for fattening, intestines and pig embryos.
African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease affecting only domestic and feral pigs. It is not transmitted to humans but causes hemorrhagic fever and high mortality in infected animals. Because of its easy spread and devastating impact on farms, countries impose strict trade restrictions whenever an outbreak occurs.
Spain has not had a case of swine fever since 1994. The current outbreak causes it to lose its African swine fever (ASF)-free status from the World Organization for Animal Health, and, therefore, its products can no longer carry this certificate.
Spain has not had a case of swine fever since 1994
However, not all countries react in the same way to an ASF outbreak. Some large importers, such as China, which is the largest purchaser of Spanish pork, accept regionalization, which means that they will only restrict imports from the affected area, in this case Catalonia, allowing the rest of the Spanish territory to continue exporting normally. This is not the case in Cuba, which does not apply this principle and imposes a total ban on pork products as soon as an outbreak of the disease is detected anywhere in Spain.
The unexpected outbreak is a severe blow to Spanish pig producers and also for Cuba, which depends almost entirely on imports to meet its meat demand due to the collapse of its own industry, which is at historical lows. Spain is, since 2023, the main supplier of pork to the island, followed by the United States and Brazil. We will have to see how these health measures affect Cuban tables, at least for those who can afford it this year. The temporary loss of this key supplier coincides with a Cuban market already under pressure from shortages, rising food prices and persistent weakness in domestic production.
A pound of boneless pork exceeded 1,000 pesos this November
In most of the country’s agricultural markets, a pound of boneless pork exceeded 1,000 pesos this November, and, as is usually the case, its price will rise as the festivities approach. The suspension of purchases from Spain will make the traditional end-of-year dish even more unaffordable.
So far, there is no official pronouncement by the Cuban health authorities on whether or not the entry of pork products from Spain through travelers or personalized shipments will be maintained. This is a common technique to introduce food into the country, which since 2021 is maintained with a tariff exemption for “non-commercial” import of medicines and food. The situation is aggravated by the proximity of the Christmas dates, when demand for pork meat, sausages and ham grows. This extraordinary situation may hit the pockets of Cuban families hard at end of this year.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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