Finland expanded its restricted zone for African swine fever (ASF) on Aug. 29 after the disease was detected in a wild boar about 25 miles west of the previous zone boundary. This notable westward spread is spurring action in the country that announced its first outbreak of ASF in late July. To date, ASF has been confirmed in 36 wild boars.
According to the Finnish Food Authority, the remains of an adult wild boar were found in a field in Pyhtaa, a municipality on Finland’s southeastern coast along the Gulf of Finland. Prior to the Pyhtaa case, all confirmed infections had been detected in Virolahti, near Finland’s southeastern border with Russia.
The infected zone now covers Kotka, Hamina and Pyhtaa, as well as parts of Loviisa, Lapinjarvi and Kouvola, all in southern or southeastern Finland. The stricter core area around Virolahti will remain unchanged for the time being, the Finnish Food Authority announced.
Within restricted areas, hunting and the feeding of wild animals are prohibited. Restrictions also apply to pigs and wild boars, as well as meat, meat products and reproductive material derived from them.
Broader restrictions on movement, which apply in parts of the existing infected zone, have not yet been extended to the newly added areas, but officials plan to review this week.
How is the ASF Outbreak in Finland Affecting Pork Exports ?
Exports to European Union (EU) states can continue normally from areas outside the restricted zone, but access to some markets outside the bloc has been disrupted, reports CGTN.
Finland exported about $86 million worth of pork in 2025. Of that approximately 50 million pounds of pork, about 77% went to markets outside the EU, notes the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation.
The largest export destinations for pork and other parts of the pig carcass include:
- South Korea (EUR 22.6 million)
- China (EUR 18.1 million)
- New Zealand (EUR 14.6 million)
- Poland (EUR 7.0 million)
- Japan (EUR 6.5 million)
Finnish pork is also exported to Sweden, Norway, Estonia and Lithuania, among other countries.
With approximately 600 pig farms, mostly located in southwestern and western Finland, Finland produces approximately 361 million pounds of pork a year.
While ASF is entirely harmless to humans, it is exceptionally resilient in the environment and highly lethal to pigs and wild boars. The virus is easily spread through animal and feed transport, infected wild boar movements, or when healthy animals consume contaminated food waste left in the wild.
To learn more about the virus and prevention protocols, visit the European Food Safety Authority.
