Although no outbreaks have yet been detected in the Balearic Islands, the Pthis African Swine African swine fever (ASF) is a concern for the primary sector and the government. The Balearic meat sector is heavily dependent on pork imports from Catalonia, where outbreaks of the disease have been detected, to process its products. Recently, the general secretary of Unió de Pagesos (UP), Sebastià Ordines, stated that "closing and protecting the borders from live animals is the best option to prevent any introduction of health problems to the Islands." However, the Balearic government is clear that it will not limit or prohibit the entry of pigs from outside the islands because "there are no health reasons to do so," according to the Director General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández. Fernández justifies this by saying that "the restricted area for animal movement and the protocol are clear." "There are no health reasons to restrict or limit their trade," he adds. It also warns that implementing measures to limit the marketing and entry of this product into the Balearic Islands, besides being impossible due to European Union regulations, would have a "boomerang effect" on local companies in this sector. In this regard, it points out that there is a company in the Islands that transports 1,500 piglets a week to Catalonia, and any restrictions on trade with the Spanish mainland would also negatively impact this company. Despite the Balearic Government's refusal, some meat companies in the Islands have already begun to curb the import of live pigs from Catalonia as a precaution, following the outbreak detected in Barcelona.