The National Pork Board is taking a proactive step to protecting the nation’s swine herd and food supply from a devastating foreign animal disease outbreak like Foot and Mouth Disease. CEO Bill Even says food safety is a national security issue and the center of their Secure Pork Supply Plan.

Even says a disease outbreak like FMD would cripple the industry by shutting down the transportation and marketing of animals. While they would like to prevent this disaster, if it does happen an emergency response plan is critical.

And he says as important is the impact on export markets, with more than 25-percent of the nation’s swine herd, or one in four pigs, being sold in international markets.

Accompanying this plan the National Pork Producers Council has asked Congress for funding for an FMD vaccine bank in the case of an outbreak.