Spain has reported nine cases of African swine fever in Barcelona, prompting the European Union to deploy a task force of veterinarians on Tuesday to help contain the outbreak.

The infections, detected in wild boars in the municipality of Bellaterra, northwest of the city, have raised alarms due to the potential impact on one of Spain’s most important agricultural industries. 

A spokesperson for the European Commission said that virology and risk-management experts will visit the affected area to assess the situation, advise local authorities, and issue technical recommendations to prevent further spread. Spain is among the world’s leading pork exporters and relies heavily on the sector. 

The country is the largest pork producer in the European Union, accounting for a quarter of the bloc’s total output, surpassing Germany. Annual exports reach around €3.5 billion (US$4.05 billion).

On Monday, Spain resumed shipments from unaffected regions to China after Beijing confirmed it would restrict only products originating from the Barcelona area. China represents nearly 42% of Spanish pork exports outside the EU. 

However, several countries —including the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada— have suspended a wide range of imports of pork and related products from all of Spain, adopting a more cautious approach.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged these governments to continue buying from regions outside the containment zone. 

Agriculture Minister Luis Planas stated that the UK signaled it would follow the European Union’s model, allowing imports from unaffected areas. He also noted that discussions with Canada are ongoing to develop a similar framework aimed at reducing the economic impact of the outbreak.