As part of the national ¡Cuidemos El Campo Milagro! campaign, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), together with Porkcolombia and airport authorities, stepped up prevention and health inspection efforts at the country's main points of entry.
ICA teams were deployed at José María Córdova International Airport to raise awareness among more than 2.000 employees and travelers leaving the country about the importance of preventing the unauthorized entry of pigs, meat products and meat derivatives from abroad.
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and lethal viral disease that affects only domestic and wild pigs and is not transmitted to humans. If it reaches the country, it could cause devastating economic and social impacts: Colombia produces more than 10,7 million pigs, and more than 400 thousand people depend on the pig farming production chain. Keeping the country free of ASF ensures the domestic supply of animal protein and preserves access to international markets.
The animal health alert is at its highest level, as the disease is present in more than 73 countries, including Spain, the Dominican Republic, Germany and Haiti, increasing the risk of the virus being introduced through luggage, mail parcels and undeclared food. For this reason, ICA advised travelers not to carry ham, sausages or pork products from these countries.
"Protecting the national pig farming industry means protecting Colombians' food supply and the work of hundreds of thousands of families," said Alfonso Araujo Baute, ICA Deputy Manager of Border Protection.
Traveling with pork or pork products without authorization and a health certificate is not recommended. Avoid entering pig farms during the 14 days following a visit to regions where the disease is present, and report to ICA any unusual clinical signs observed in animals.
19 October 2026 / ICA / Colombia.
https://www.ica.gov.co
