THE Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a memorandum order banning imports of swine and pork products from Thailand, following reports of an African Swine Fever outbreak there.
Signed by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, the order suspends the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork, pig skin, and processed animal proteins.
“Several news media platforms have reported the occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus detected in a pet pig and surface swabs (at a) slaughterhouse in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand,” the DA said.
“Thailand is not an accredited country to export any swine related commodities to the Philippines but there is a need to prevent the entry of any ASF-susceptible products originating from Thailand that might enter the country through hand carried products from international vessels or any other possible routes,” it added.
The order authorizes the confiscation of all such shipments by the DA’s Veterinary Quarantine Officers and Inspectors at all major ports.
On Wednesday, the DA issued a ban on the imports of poultry and poultry products from Spain and Croatia.
The ban was issued to prevent the entry of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
