Targeted Monitoring on Illegal Suid Meat and Meat Products Trade in Italy: African Swine Fever Detection and Implications for Transboundary Spread

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most threatening animal diseases for the global swine industry. Due to the high risk of ASF virus (ASFv) transmission via infected suid meat and derived products, Italy adopted specific risk mitigation measures during 2023 and 2024. Two targeted programs were established to implement these measures: one addressing the illegal domestic trade of wild boar meat and meat products and the second focusing on irregularities in food imports. In both programs, products with traceability irregularity and improper or missing labels were seized. ASFv detection by real‐time PCR was conducted on all suid meat and derived products originating from illegal national trade, as well as on illegally imported products in which suid DNA was detected. While smuggled local products did not show any ASFv contamination, a large proportion of the illegally imported products tested positive for ASFv by real‐time PCR. However, experimental infection tests conducted both in vitro and in vivo using samples that tested positive by real‐time PCR, yielded negative results indicating that the virus was inactivated. These programs highlighted the existence of an illegal network responsible for smuggling suid meat and derived products into Italy. Although in vivo and in vitro testing excluded the presence of infectious virus in illegally imported products, the potential risk of transboundary transmission through illegal importation remains a significant concern, necessitating ongoing surveillance and stringent biosecurity measures.