The Council of the European Union has completed the EU's internal procedures for the modernised trade agreement with Mexico, paving the way for its entry into force. The agreement will eliminate most remaining customs duties, expand access to markets for goods and services, and create new opportunities for more than 45,000 European companies, the vast majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

After more than a year without new cases, African swine fever (ASF) has re-emerged in wild boar in the German federal state of Brandenburg. The new cases were detected within a border buffer zone near Poland, while Germany currently has four active areas where the virus continues to circulate in wild boar populations.

Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada has appointed Taras Vysotsky as Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food. The newly appointed minister stated that his key priorities will include the European integration of the agricultural sector, support for producers, development of value-added processing, digitalisation, and assistance to frontline communities.

Starting July 22, the United States will impose a 25% tariff on most goods imported from Brazil. However, several key export products, including beef, coffee and aviation products, have been exempted from the new duties. Brazil has already announced its intention to challenge the decision at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Danish pig industry is accelerating its transition toward improved animal welfare practices. Following the successful implementation of an industry-wide initiative, Denmark has revised its targets and now plans to send 3 million pigs with intact tails to slaughter by 2027. The announcement was made by the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.

Prolonged heat and a severe lack of rainfall are rapidly deteriorating maize crop conditions in France. Analysts have already revised downward their forecasts for European Union maize production, and France’s harvest could become the smallest since the mid-1970s, according to Reuters, citing industry experts and market analysts.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts only modest growth in pork supplies over the next 12 months. Despite continued improvements in productivity, the decline in the breeding herd to its lowest level since 2014 is limiting the industry's growth potential and increasing its vulnerability to disease outbreaks and higher feed costs.

The Scottish Government has announced a new £2 million (approximately €2.35 million) support package for independent pig producers. The funding is intended to compensate farmers for losses caused by the prolonged decline in pig prices, which has already resulted in a reduction in sow numbers and forced several producers to leave the sector.

China continues to maintain its position as the world’s largest pork producer, with production expanding further in 2026. At the same time, abundant domestic supply, weak consumer demand and declining imports continue to put pressure on prices despite government measures aimed at stabilising the market.

Spain, home to the largest pig population in the European Union, continues to maintain high levels of compound feed production. In 2025, the sector produced nearly 31 million tonnes of feed and is expected to maintain a similar output in 2026 despite regulatory changes and evolving market challenges.

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in the Spaske Starostyn District of the Krolevets community in Ukraine’s Sumy region. To contain the disease, the State Emergency Anti-Epizootic Commission has imposed quarantine restrictions and approved a comprehensive package of disease control measures.

Fewer cases of African swine fever (ASF) were reported across Europe in the first half of 2026 than during the same period last year. However, the disease continues to circulate extensively in wild boar populations, while outbreaks in domestic pigs are increasing rapidly in several countries in Southeastern Europe.

The South African government has agreed to allow the private sector to import, distribute, and administer foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by agricultural organisations that accused the authorities of responding too slowly and ineffectively to one of the country's largest FMD outbreaks in recent years.

Despite the growing risks posed by transboundary animal diseases and the threat of future pandemics, global investment in animal health systems remains critically low. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) warns that insufficient funding for veterinary services increases risks to food security, economies, and public health.

Serbia continues its fight against African swine fever (ASF). Authorities have begun culling more than 11,000 pigs at a commercial farm in the western part of the country after the disease was confirmed. The government has pledged to compensate the farm owners, while the country's ASF situation remains challenging.

New trade agreements are opening additional opportunities for British meat exporters in North and South American markets. Rather than competing on export volumes, the UK is focusing on premium products, high quality, traceability, and compliance with international standards, creating new prospects for British pork exports.

The structure of the US pork industry has undergone profound changes over the past four decades. While the number of hog farms has fallen by more than 80%, the national pig inventory has continued to grow. Production has become increasingly concentrated on larger, specialised operations, and contract production has emerged as the dominant business model.

The European Commission has published an evaluation of the EU Animal Health Law, marking ten years since its adoption. The report confirms that the legislation has significantly strengthened animal disease prevention and control across the European Union while identifying areas for further improvement, including broader use of vaccination and better adaptation of the regulatory framework to emerging animal health threats.

Although total US pork exports increased in May 2026, Mexico's new restrictions on pork offal imports had a significant impact on trade. Due to veterinary-related import restrictions, shipments of pork variety meats to one of the industry's largest export markets fell by 80%, costing US producers millions of dollars each week, according to industry estimates.

The UK pig industry has made remarkable progress in reducing antibiotic use over the past ten years. In 2025, antibiotic usage fell to its lowest level since records began, reflecting a long-term strategy focused on disease prevention, monitoring, and the responsible use of veterinary medicines.