MADRID, Nov 29 (Reuters) – About one third of Spanish pork export certificates have been blocked after the first outbreak of swine fever for three decades, Spain’s agriculture minister said on Saturday.

“Of the 400 export certificates to 104 countries, a third are blocked. We are working to open them as quickly as possible,” Agriculture Minister Luis Planas told a press conference.

The virus, last recorded in Spain in 1994, was detected in six wild boar near Barcelona.

Planas said the value of the country’s pork exports is 8.8 billion euros ($10.20 billion), of which 58% goes to the European Union.

He said exports to the EU were not affected except those which fell within a 20-kilometre zone near the source of the outbreak.

“Our task is to keep international markets open,” he added.

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