Colombia has new regions declared free of Classical Swine Fever as part of the eradication plan for this disease.

Classical Swine Fever (CSF) is caused by a virus belonging to the genus Pestivirus, family Flaviviridae. CSF naturally affects domestic and wild pigs. This viral disease is transmitted by direct contact with secretions from infected pigs.

On May 27, 2021, the Central-Eastern Zone was recognized as a zone free of Classical Swine Fever, according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2019). This geographical zone includes the following pork production areas: Boyacá, Caquetá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Meta, Santander, Tolima, and Sur del Casanare. Certification was based on the documentation submitted by Colombia to the corresponding delegates.

“The certificate was a collaborative effort”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Zea Navarro, declared that this achievement is a collaborative effort between the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Asociación Colombiana de Porcicultures PorkColombia. This progress is part of the “Together for the countryside” initiative, which aims to strengthen Colombia’s agricultural sector.

Currently, there are 23 departments in Colombia with clinical freedom from Classical Swine Fever. Of these departments, 13 have been declared free of the disease. In terms of sanitary management, 8 departments are not vaccinating, and 11 departments are still vaccinating. In this scenario, the certificate recognizes that 95% of the national territory remains free of the disease. Pig farming in Colombia is represented in 83% by technified productions.

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National Classical Swine Fever Eradication Program

Colombia has a National Classical Swine Fever Eradication Program whose objective is to declare zones free of the disease, define control zones and zones in the process of eradication. This collaborative effort seeks to improve market opportunities for pig farming in Colombia.

The National Classical Swine Fever Eradication Program began in 2000. Since then, sanitary measures such as vaccination of susceptible animals, movement control, and epidemiological surveillance have been implemented. This program is regulated by Law 101 of 1993, Decree 4765 of 2008, and Decree 1071 of 205. In 2002, Congress declared the eradication of Classical Swine Fever to be of national social interest through Law 623 of 2000 and Regulatory Decree 930 of 2002.

In 2009, serological monitoring determined the absence of the Classical Swine Fever virus in the departments of Amazonas, San Andrés, and Providencia, and some municipalities in the departments of Antioquia and Chocó. This vigilance allowed declaring the first zones free of the disease and pig farming in Colombia was strengthened.

PorkColombia and the ICA promoted the National Swine Health Development Program for the period 2015 – 2020. This project worked to address the needs and challenges of pig farming in Colombia, including the eradication of Classical Swine Fever.