30 May 2025: Removal of classical swine fever restrictions on certain Bulgarian products
Updated 16 June 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/30-may-2025-removal-of-classical-swine-fever-restrictions-on-certain-bulgarian-products
OVS note number: 2025/39
Date: 30 May 2025
Purpose
To inform you that Defra has now recognised Bulgaria as free from Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and that, as a result, CSF-related restrictions on imports of fresh porcine and swine meat and porcine and swine meat products from Bulgaria have been lifted.
Background
In 2013, the European Union placed Bulgaria under restriction due to CSF outbreaks through Commission Implementing Decision 2013/764/EU. These restrictions were maintained in Great Britain’s import conditions following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
The Bulgarian authorities and European Commission recently requested the United Kingdom recognise Bulgaria as free of CSF.
Defra has since undertaken a review and determined that the entire territory of Bulgaria can be recognised as free of CSF from 24 April 2025.
The UK Office amended its approved country listings on 30 May 2025 to lift CSF-related restrictions on imports of the following commodities from Bulgaria:
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Fresh porcine and swine meat: an opening date of 24 April 2025 has been applied to territories BG-1 and BG-2 in the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list. As a result, imports of fresh meat of pigs and swine covered by the POR, SUF and SUW model certificates from animals slaughtered on or after 24 April 2025 from these territories are now permitted.
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Porcine and swine meat products: the ‘meat products’ list has been updated to stipulate that:
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Imports of meat products derived from domestic porcine and farmed-cloven hoofed game (column 5) are now permitted with no specific treatment requirements (treatment ‘A’) if originating from territories BG-1 and BG-2, and subject to treatment ‘D’ if originating from territory BG-3.
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Imports of meat products derived from wild swine (column 11) from territory BG-1 are now permitted subject to no specific treatment requirements (treatment ‘A’).
Although restrictions on fresh pig meat and meat products from Bulgaria due to CSF have been lifted, those relating to Bulgaria’s African Swine Fever (ASF) status continue to apply. This means that fresh porcine and swine meat from ASF-restricted zones II (territory BG-3 in the ‘fresh meat of ungulates’ list) and ASF-restricted zones III (BG-4) continue to be restricted, with imports of related meat products continuing to only be permitted subject to treatment ‘D’ or ‘C’ (as set out in the ‘meat products’ list).
In addition, please note that CSF-related restrictions on imports of live pigs and porcine semen from the whole territory of Bulgaria continue to apply. This is because those restrictions are given effect in legislation (Commission Implementing Decision 2013/764) and continue to apply until that legislation is repealed or amended. Defra will issue a further OVS note when this action has been taken.
Please also note that personal imports of fresh pig and swine meat and meat products from Bulgaria remain restricted due to the separate restrictions in place on personal imports of FMD-susceptible animal commodities from the EU single market area in response to FMD outbreaks. See our 11 April 2025 OVS note for more information.
Actions for OVSs
To note the contents of this OVS note.
Contact point for enquiries
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team