AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol announced a ban on pork and pork products from Vietnam on Sunday, after traces of African Swine Fever (ASF) were discovered in some products from that country.
“Ordered a ban based on the recommendation of BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry),” Mr. Piñol said in a mobile message.
Vietnam is the latest country to warrant a ban on pork and products after similar imports from Japan were banned on Feb. 10, also due to ASF.
“Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Ronnie Domingo made the recommendation following the publication of reports from Taiwan saying that quarantine authorities intercepted pork from Vietnam which tested positive for ASF,” Mr. Piñol said in a social media post.
“While a memorandum implementing the ban will be signed tomorrow (Monday), I have ordered BAI to implement the ban effective today,” Mr. Piñol added.
Other countries banned from exporting pork and pork products to the Philippines are: China, Hungary, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa and Zambia. — Reiceline Joy N. Ignacio
