"The Second Wave of the 'Raw Ham Shock': What the Suspension of Spanish Imports Brings to Dining Tables in Japan and Around the World"

1. What's Happening in Japan Now? The Shock of "Spanish Import Stop"

Temporary Suspension of Spanish Pork and Ham Imports

In late November 2025, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries temporarily suspended imports of pork, ham, salami, and other pork products from Spain after African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in wild boars in the country.Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries+1

The Affected Products

• Fresh and Frozen Pork

• Processed Pork Products like Ham and Salami

• Some Cooked Meat Products

The suspension covers a wide range of products. While existing stock will continue to circulate, new imports have been halted, leading to concerns about potential shortages and price hikes in the medium to long term.Food Network+1

The Presence of Spanish Products in the Japanese Market

Japan relies on Spain as a major supplier of pork, following Canada and the United States, with about 20% of its total pork imports coming from Spain.Food Network

The importance is even greater in the "ham" and "dry-cured ham" sectors.

• About 70% of the dry-cured ham imported by Japanis from Spain

• Most of it is offered in restaurant chains, specialty bars, and import supermarkets.

It has been reported that if supply tightens, it will directly affect prices and product variety.Nippon.com+1

In a Spanish restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, ham is such a staple that customers often order it first. One establishment uses around 150 kg of Spanish Jamón Serrano per month, and if the import suspension continues, they may have to switch to domestic or other foreign products, or in the worst case, reduce their menu offerings.NEWSjp

Why It's Called the "Second Wave" — The Long-Term Ban on Italian Imports

The backdrop to this "second wave" is the ongoingsuspension of Italian ham imports.

• January 2022: ASF was detected in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, leading Japan to halt pork imports from Italy.Fior di Maso+1

• As a result, Italian hams, including Parma Prosciutto, disappeared from Japanese restaurants and retail stores.precofoods.co.jp+1

Many importers and restaurant chains switched to Spanish Jamón Serrano and Jamón Ibérico to fill the gap left by Italian products. The stoppage of Spanish imports is a double shock, as it affects this "alternative pillar" as well.NEWSjp

2. What is African Swine Fever (ASF)? — "Not Transmissible to Humans," But a Major Economic Blow

What Kind of Disease is ASF?

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a

• viral livestock disease that only infects pigs and wild boars

• It has a very high mortality rate, requiring mass culling if it occurs on a farm

• Currently, there are no effective vaccines or treatments

making it one of the "worst-class" livestock diseases.Food Safety+1

Transmission Routes

• Direct contact with infected pigs or wild boars

• Contaminated vehicles, tools, shoes, etc.

• Indirect routes such as feeding infected pork products (ham or sausages) from affected countries

are diverse, and there is a high risk of cross-border spread.usda.gov

Risk to Humans and Food Safety?

International organizations and governments clearly state that ASF **"does not infect humans" and "is safe to eat."**

• The European Commission's food safety division states, "ASF does not infect humans or other animals, and there are no food safety issues."Food Safety

• Authorities in Canada, Ireland, Hong Kong, Australia, and others also emphasize, "ASF does not infect humans. There is no health risk from consuming pork products."inspection.canada.ca+2Agriculture Victoria+2

Therefore, eating Spanish ham already on the market poses no health issues. The Japanese government's decision to suspend imports is a **"border control measure"** to prevent the virus from entering domestic livestock.

3. What's Happening in Spain — Tension in the "Pork Powerhouse"

ASF's Return After 30 Years and Its Impact on the Spanish Pork Industry

In Spain, the ASF virus was detected in wild boars in the mountainous areas near Barcelona. This is the first ASF outbreak in about 30 years in the country, which is one of the largest pork exporters in the EU, causing a significant shock.Reuters+1

• At least 13 wild boars have tested positive so far

• To contain the damage, a6 km radius restriction zonehas been established, with military involvement in disinfection, carcass collection, and drone surveillance

• Investigations are ongoing into whether the virus originated from meat products brought from infected countries consumed by wild boars or from a potential leak of research virusesReuters+1

Spain's pork exports amount to several billion euros annually, serving as a crucial supply source for countries like China, EU nations, and the UK. If ASF spreads, the impact on global pork prices and the ham market will be a worldwide issue, not just limited to Japan.Reuters+1

Responses from Various Countries: Japan's "Total Stop," Europe's "Regional Limitations"

Responses to Spanish pork imports vary by country.

• Japan: Temporarily suspends imports of pork and pork products from all of Spain (without zoning, a comprehensive measure).Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

• UK: Initially suspended all imports but switched to "regional restrictions targeting only infected areas" in line with EU policy, continuing imports from other regions.Reuters

• China: Suspended imports only from the Barcelona region, continuing imports from other areas.Reuters

Japan tends to emphasize strict border control measures to minimize the risk of livestock disease intrusion, leveraging its island nation status. Meanwhile, Europe, the UK, and China aim to balancelivestock biosecurity and trade maintenancethrough regional restrictions.

4. The First Wave: Changes Since the Day Italian Ham Disappeared

The Long Absence of Italian Prosciutto

The suspension of pork imports from Italy, which began in 2022, continues to affect the ham sector.

• Authentic Italian hams like "Prosciutto di Parma" stopped being exported to Japan following the ASF outbreak in January 2022.precofoods.co.jp+1

• Italian hams disappeared from Japanese Italian restaurants and wine bars, leading to a shift towards Spanish, domestic, and American alternatives.##HTML_TAG_509