A Major Win for Pork Producers
Canada has reached an important milestone in protecting the future of its pork industry. The newly announced African Swine Fever (ASF) Canada Japan zoning agreement strengthens one of our most valuable export relationships and provides greater confidence for Alberta pork producers in the event of an animal disease outbreak.
While African Swine Fever has never been detected in Canadian pigs, this agreement is about being prepared. It helps ensure that if an outbreak were ever to occur in one region of the country, trade with Japan could continue from disease-free areas, protecting producers, processors, and rural communities from unnecessary economic disruption.
Why Japan Matters
Japan is Canada’s largest pork export market by value, making it one of the most important destinations for Canadian pork products.
Canadian pork has earned a reputation in Japan for its exceptional quality, safety, and consistency, and maintaining access to this premium market is essential for the long-term success of our industry.
For Alberta producers, export markets like Japan help create demand for the pork raised on our farms, supporting jobs throughout the value chain—from producers and feed suppliers to processors, transport companies, and exporters.
Zoning Agreement
An African Swine Fever zoning agreement is a trade arrangement between countries that recognizes disease control measures within defined geographic areas. Without an agreement, an ASF outbreak anywhere in Canada could result in an importing country immediately closing its borders to all Canadian pork products.
With a zoning agreement in place, countries recognize Canada’s disease containment systems. Pork exports from regions unaffected by disease may continue once containment measures are established and verified, rather than shutting down trade across the entire country.
Benefits for Alberta Pork Producers
Although no producer wants to think about an animal disease outbreak, planning ahead is one of the best ways to protect the industry.
The Canada Japan zoning agreement helps:
- Protect access to a key export market during a regional disease event.
- Reduce financial risk for producers by limiting unnecessary trade disruptions.
- Support business continuity throughout the pork supply chain.
- Strengthen confidence among international trading partners in Canada’s animal health and disease management systems.
Building a Stronger Trade Network
Canada currently has ASF zoning agreements with:
- Japan
- United States
- European Union
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Vietnam
- United Arab Emirates
- Philippines
These agreements now cover more than 55% of Canadian pork exports, significantly improving the industry’s ability to maintain international trade during an animal health emergency.
A Vote of Confidence in Canada’s Animal Health System
The agreement reflects international confidence in Canada’s surveillance, reporting, and disease response systems.
Canadian Pork Council Chair René Roy described the agreement as “a vote of confidence” in the animal health systems of both Canada and Japan. He also noted that zoning agreements help reduce the long-term financial risk to Canadian farmers should ASF ever reach Canada.
Looking Ahead
Protecting Alberta’s pork industry means investing in strong biosecurity, effective disease preparedness, and reliable international partnerships. The Canada Japan zoning agreement is an important step toward safeguarding market access and strengthening the resilience of Canada’s pork sector.
For Alberta pork producers, it provides greater certainty that the markets they’ve worked hard to build can remain open—even in the face of future challenges.
