LOS ANGELES (KNX) – A record amount of animal product from China was seized at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex in 2022, officials said.
Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists picked up more than 1 million pounds of “prohibited pork, chicken, beef, and duck products” from China from October 1st, 2021, to September 30th, 2022.
"This represents a 7% increase from fiscal year 2021, and a 162% increase from fiscal year 2020," Jamie Ruiz, a press officer for CBP, said in a press release.
According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, China is affected by African Swine Fever (ASF), Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Newcastle Disease (ND), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD).
Ruiz also noted the products could cause “100 percent mortality in animals, devastating vital U.S. livestock resources” as it can be spread by ticks who feed on infected animals.
“Behind this concerning trend is the exponential increase in e-commerce purchases during the pandemic,” said Donald R. Kusser, CBP Port Director of the LA/LB seaport. “Our Agriculture Specialists have done an outstanding job focusing on this threat, resulting in these record-breaking interceptions.”
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