VZCZCXYZ0024
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHQT #0345 1321754
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121754Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0363
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 8136
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3540
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAY LIMA 3193
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4316
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0638

UNCLAS QUITO 000345 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT FOR ANN RYAN 
USTR FOR JANE DOHERTY 
USDA/OSTA FOR CLAY HAMILTON AND CASEY BEAN 
USDA/FAS LIMA FOR AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR ELIMINATES PORK TRADE BAN RELATED TO H1N1 
 
REF A:  QUITO 330 
    B:  STATE 44254 
    C:  QUITO 307 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Ecuador lifted its ban on U.S. pork products that was 
issued because of concerns about the H1N1 virus (reftel c).  The GOE 
issued a new resolution on May 7 that reversed its previous ban on 
imports of pork and pork products, live swine, and genetic material 
from the U.S. and Mexico.  Now, only imports of live swine from 
Canada and other countries where H1N1 flu is present in animals have 
been suspended.  The resolution specifically authorizes the import 
of pork products and genetic materials.  This latest development 
follows the Embassy's presentation of reftel B demarche on May 6, as 
reported in reftel A. 
 
¶2.  (U) The resolution, passed by Ecuador's sanitary authority 
Agrocalidad, was released to the public on May 8.  The measure had 
been shared with Customs, port authorities, airports, and other 
frontier control posts so that they could begin allowing pork 
products into the country, although Agrocalidad noted that it could 
take a few days to reach involved agencies at the working level. 
Although the resolution does not specify an end date for the 
measure, we understand it will be in effect as long as Ecuador's 
state of emergency over the H1N1 flu, essentially through June. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The Embassy plans to continue monitoring the situation to 
ensure that the various agencies involved are applying the 
resolution correctly. 
 
HODGES