The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public that it has added Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to the APHIS list of regions considered to be affected with African swine fever. The agency has taken this action because of the confirmation of ASF in those countries.

On June 22, the veterinary authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina reported to the World Organization for Animal Health the occurrence of ASF in that country. In response to that report, on June 26, APHIS added Bosnia and Herzegovina to the list of regions where ASF exists or the administrator has reason to believe that ASF exists. This notice serves as an official record and public notification of that action.

On July 17, the veterinary authorities of Kosovo reported to the European Commission the confirmation of ASF in that country. In response to the European Union's Animal Diseases Information System report, on Aug. 7, APHIS added Kosovo to the list of regions where ASF exists or the administrator has reason to believe that ASF exists.

This notice serves as an official record and public notification of those actions.

As a result, pork and pork products from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, including casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United States.

ASF is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic swine that can spread rapidly with extremely high rates of morbidity and mortality. A list of regions where ASF exists or is reasonably believed to exist is maintained on the APHIS website.