The European Commission has suspended the movement of all pigs within and from the German federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia, due to a new case of classical swine fever in a pig farm in the region. This is the fourth confirmed case of the disease in domestic pigs in North-Rhine Westphalia, despite control measures put in place by the German authorities.

Classical swine fever is a serious disease of pigs with an important economic impact on the pig industry. Under the decision adopted by the Commission, no pigs can be transported to or from holdings in North-Rhine Westphalia, nor can they be dispatched to other parts of Germany, other Member States or third countries.