DA lifts ban on pork imports from Belgium

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on pork imports from Belgium after being cleared of African swine fever (ASF).

Agriculture Secretary William Dar has lifted the ban on the importation of domestic pigs and their products including pork meat and semen originating from Belgium.

The DA received confirmation from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that Belgium is now free of ASF.

ASF outbreaks in Belgium only affected wild boars, with the last documented case reported in March.

Based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing domestic pigs and their products is “negligible.”

All import transactions of the above mentioned products will be allowed according to the existing rules and regulations of the DA, BAI and the National Meat Inspection Service.

Additional attestations on the veterinary health certificate on all exports of pork from Belgium should be met, among which is that the meat should come from animals that were kept in a zone free from ASF since birth or for at least three months.

The pigs should also have been slaughtered in an approved abattoir where they have been subjected, with favorable results, to ante- and post-mortem inspections in accordance with OIE.

The OIE is an intergovernmental organization that informs governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases.

It also coordinates the conduct of studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, and of harmonizing regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products.