Unsterilized food waste was the likely source of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak confirmed on October 21 at a pig farm in Wuqi District, Taichung (Taiwan), Deputy Minister of Agriculture Tu Wen-jane announced during a press conference held by the African Swine Fever Forward Command Center.

The White House has released details of a new trade agreement between the United States and China, reached last week between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. One of the key outcomes is China’s decision to suspend all retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods imposed since March 2025.

On October 29, 2025, France and Japan officially concluded a regionalization agreement concerning the control of African swine fever (ASF). The document, which takes effect immediately, is the result of seven years of negotiations between the veterinary and sanitary authorities of both countries.

In 2024, the UK pig industry recorded a slight increase in antibiotic use, according to data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), based on figures from the electronic Medicine Book (eMB) system.

As of October 23, 2025, South Korea has officially lifted its import restrictions on pork and pork products from Germany. According to the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMLEH), the decision came after the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) repealed the ban that had been imposed in January following a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Brandenburg.

Between July and September 2025, UK pork production fell by 2.4% year-on-year, totaling 237,000 tonnes, which is also 1% lower than in the previous quarter. These figures were well below the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)’s initial forecast, which projected 1.4% growth.

Smithfield Foods, the largest U.S. pork producer and a subsidiary of WH Group (Hong Kong), announced significant growth in both revenue and profit for the third quarter of 2025. According to Reuters, the company raised its annual profit forecast, driving its stock price up by 6%.

Poland’s pig industry, which has faced severe losses over the past decade due to African swine fever (ASF) and market volatility, is finally showing signs of stabilization. Experts predict that the national pig population could even begin to grow again in the coming years.

The Ministry of Commerce of China has announced that an official hearing will be held on October 31 as part of the country’s anti-dumping investigation into pork imports from the European Union (EU), Reuters reported, citing the ministry’s statement.

Spain has adopted Royal Decree No. 809/2025 of September 16, which amends the existing Royal Decree 1135/2002 on the protection of pigs. The new regulation introduces a classification system for pig farms based on tail docking practices and the level of animal welfare achieved, as well as differentiated stocking density standards.

Starting January 1, 2026, Ukraine will implement new animal welfare regulations approved by Order No. 224 “On the Approval of Requirements for the Welfare of Farm Animals during Keeping.” Oversight of compliance will be carried out by the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP), which is already conducting large-scale inspector training.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), has announced new import restrictions on pigs, pork products, and related by-products from Taiwan following the recent outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).
The decision took effect on October 21, 2025, according to an official APHIS press release issued on October 27.

Denmark has launched a new support program for pig producers who choose not to dock pigs’ tails. Under the scheme, farmers will receive 50 Danish kroner (≈ USD 7.1) in compensation for each pig raised with an intact tail.

Analysts at Rabobank predict that the global sow population will decrease in 2026, while pork trade will remain dynamic and overall herd health is expected to improve. The findings were published in the bank’s quarterly global pork market report.

The German state of Hesse has begun constructing a large-scale protective barrier to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) from neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The initiative was announced by the Hessian Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment (HMLU).

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, opening major opportunities for American pork and biofuel producers. The initiative is the result of ongoing engagement between the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the Trump administration.