The US Hide, Skin and Leather Association (USHSLA) announced that China has agreed to resume imports of US pig and sow skins to the mainland, lifting a 2009 ban on these products related to unsubstantiated allegations of H1-N1 "swine flu" outbreaks.

China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) confirmed that US pig skin exports can resume immediately under USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) existing animal by-product certificate-the same certificate used for cattle hides.

USHSLA received written confirmation of AQSIQ's decision from the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA).