Pork imports from Indonesia banned after ASF outbreak

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned imports from Indonesia of domestic and wild pigs and their by-products due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in North Sumatra province.

In memorandum order no. 4, series of 2020, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar ordered a ban on “the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork meat, pigskin, and semen.”

The order sets in motion the “immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance… (and) stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above stated commodities into the country by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports.”

In a report submitted by Indonesia to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the outbreak started Sept. 4, 2019. The first outbreak was reported in North Sumatra, affecting only backyard hogs.

The government currently bans imports from China, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Poland, Germany, and South Africa. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang