ECUADOR ELIMINATES PORK TRADE BAN RELATED TO H1N1

UNCLAS QUITO 000345 SENSITIVE SIPDIS EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR ANN RYAN USTR FOR JANE DOHERTY USDA/OSTA FOR CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN USDA/FAS LIMA FOR AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON EC SUBJECT: ECUADOR ELIMINATES PORK TRADE BAN RELATED TO H1N1 REF A: QUITO 330 B: STATE 44254 C: QUITO 307 ¶1. (SBU) Ecuador lifted its ban on U.S. pork products that was issued because of concerns about the H1N1 virus (reftel c). The GOE issued a new resolution on May 7 that reversed its previous ban on imports of pork and pork products, live swine, and genetic material from the U.S. and Mexico. Now, only imports of live swine from Canada and other countries where H1N1 flu is present in animals have been suspended. The resolution specifically authorizes the import of pork products and genetic materials. This latest development follows the Embassy's presentation of reftel B demarche on May 6, as reported in reftel A. ¶2. (U) The resolution, passed by Ecuador's sanitary authority Agrocalidad, was released to the public on May 8. The measure had been shared with Customs, port authorities, airports, and other frontier control posts so that they could begin allowing pork products into the country, although Agrocalidad noted that it could take a few days to reach involved agencies at the working level. Although the resolution does not specify an end date for the measure, we understand it will be in effect as long as Ecuador's state of emergency over the H1N1 flu, essentially through June. ¶3. (SBU) The Embassy plans to continue monitoring the situation to ensure that the various agencies involved are applying the resolution correctly. HODGES