According to Reuters the South Korean government has announced that it is lifting the ban on imports of North American live swine that was started in April. The ban was implemented in response to the outbreak of H1N1 influenza despite the fact that the virus wasn't found in pigs and pork can not carry the disease.

The farm ministry in a statement Tuesday said live hogs will be allowed from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Imports will start on Wednesday with stronger quarantine checks.

Several other countries continue to ban hog imports, in particular China and Russia. However Russia lifted the ban on Canadian imports in July.