6.6 International trade
At the global level, international trade, despite bringing potential
health benefits through economic growth is one of the major driving
factors of emerging diseases of animals as well as humans (Labonte et
al., 2011). At present, ASF is a global threat to food security and
economic stability of nations
(Evans,
2019). Already, China, a home to half the world’s pig population has
lost a third of its pigs (about 100 M) to the devastating outbreak of
ASF in the year 2018 and estimated to have led to a direct economic loss
of one trillion yuan (approximately142 billion
USD)(Huang,
2020).Besides China, the country Vietnam, where the pork industry is
worth approximately 4 billion USD, has confirmed several outbreaks of
ASF in the recent years
(Evans,
2019).In India pork production is limited, representing only 9% of the
country’s animal protein sources. Production of pork is concentrated
only in few India states and mainly in the NE region of the country
primarily consisting of backyard and informal sector producers
(dahd.nic.in). As per Government of India reports, the total pork
production in the year 2014-15 was 464.11 thousand tons. The Indian
market for processed pork products is small, and the majority of this
market is supplied through imports by Belgium, Sri Lanka, Spain, Italy
and the Netherlands in recent years
(dahd.nic.in; USDA FAS 2016).India’s global
interaction in import of pork and pork products and human movements in
dealing pigs might spread infectious diseases like ASF to emerge further
outbreaks.
The listed risk factors or indicators and the critical risk control
measures to reduce or eliminate threat of future emergence of ASF in
India are described in Figure. 3. However, reviewing and updating the
identified risks is an important future research for the global control
and eradication of ASF.