Due to the risk of African swine fever, the BAVG warns against bringing animal products, especially pork and sausage products, from non-EU countries. Animal diseases such as ASF have a serious impact on the domestic animal population and agriculture. The virus is harmless to humans, but ASF is deadly for domestic pigs and wild boar. In a joint "Aktion scharf!" campaign organised by the Austrian Customs Office, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK), the Federal Office of Consumer Health (BAVG) and the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), more checks are therefore being carried out on summer travel in order to prevent the introduction of the animal disease. The aim is to raise awareness among travellers that bringing meat from non-EU countries is prohibited and will be strictly controlled by customs. It is therefore essential that you refrain from importing pork from the affected countries and thus contribute to the protection of animals and the economy in Austria. The transport and careless disposal of infected meat, sausage or food waste is one of the main transmission routes of ASF.

Controls are a contribution to preventing the introduction and further spread of ASF

The transport of pork products from non-EU countries is prohibited. Within the EU, household quantities are permitted, provided that manufacturers of the meat products are subject to proper veterinary supervision in the country of origin. Meat and sausages from private production that have not been subject to official controls pose a particular risk. Therefore, under no circumstances should home-made fresh or finished products of animal origin be brought home from abroad, as contaminated food waste is the main transmission route for African swine fever. Even though humans are not affected by this animal disease, the customs and veterinary authorities are appealing to all travellers not to bring back any animal food from their holidays in order to minimise the risks for domestic farm and wild animals. Austria has so far been spared African swine fever, but the risk of introduction remains very high due to the numerous cases in southern and eastern Europe. ASF is already present in some neighbouring countries such as Germany, Italy, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The main risk for Austria remains the introduction from the eastern and south-eastern European outbreak areas. African swine fever is currently particularly active in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. In Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Greece, ASF often occurs on smaller farms with just a few animals. Checks on travelling animals are therefore an important contribution to preventing the introduction and spread of animal diseases.

Swine fever endangers farm animals and wild boars alike

Humans can easily spread ASF over long distances through food contaminated with the virus, but the virus poses no health risk to humans themselves. During a joint control operation by customs, the BMSGPK and BAVG in January 2024, around 2.4 tonnes of unauthorised and potentially dangerous foodstuffs were seized and their illegal import prevented. In addition to Austria, the intercepted products were also destined for Germany, France, Italy and Belgium. According to laboratory tests carried out by AGES animal disease experts, the seized animal products were all negative for ASF. However, vigilance is still called for, as ASF in particular poses a serious threat to domestic agriculture and wild boar populations with serious health and economic consequences. The infection is usually fatal for infected domestic and wild pigs, but for livestock farmers in Austria this would mean enormous economic damage with far-reaching trade policy implications. It is therefore important that the population also makes a contribution to maintaining the health of domestic livestock by eating local specialities at their holiday destination, not bringing any food made from pork and wild boar meat with them and avoiding any contact with domestic and wild boar in affected countries wherever possible.

The coordinated information and control campaign by customs, BMSGPK, BAVG and AGES is one of many measures to counteract the introduction of African swine fever into Austria. Travellers are made more aware of the problem and illegally imported goods can be withdrawn from circulation. Further technical information can be found on the websites KVG and AGES.