Pig farmers lose pork import battle

Pig farmers have failed in their legal bid to overturn a government decision allowing raw pork imports from countries with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS).

The disease, also known as blue-ear pig disease, causes still-born piglets and respiratory illnesses in young pigs. It costs the US swine industry more than $US600 million ($NZ729m) a year, according to the nationalhogfarmer.com website.