Pre-emptive zoning for exports to Australia’s largest pork market

As part of the Australian government’s $66.6 million African swine fever (ASF) response package, a formal, pre-emptive zoning arrangement has been established with Singapore. This will facilitate the export of Australian pig meat to Singapore in the event of an ASF outbreak in Australia. Singapore is Australia’s most valuable export market for pig meat, with exports that were worth over $60 million in 2019–20

The zoning arrangement is comprehensive and covers a range of potential scenarios to minimise trade disruption in the event of an ASF outbreak in Australia, including ensuring that exports can continue from non-affected states or territories if the disease is detected in domestic pigs.

If ASF were to reach Australia, it could have a significant impact on pig health and production, and contribute to wider economic impacts caused by a loss of access to overseas markets for our pork products. The Australian Government and the pork industry are committed to keeping Australia ASF-free; however, conditional access to overseas markets could help limit the commercial impact of an ASF outbreak if one were to occur. Arrangements such as this pre-emptive zoning agreement are a central pillar in Australian Pork Limited’s ASF preparedness strategy, as they help improve certainty for the pig meat sector in the event of an outbreak of ASF in Australia.