Regional ASF monitoring team formed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a regional monitoring team to ensure the compliance of control measures for African swine fever (ASF).

The team is composed of key persons from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), with members designated per region.

The team shall be responsible in planning and strategizing the conduct of enforcement operations.

It shall validate complaints, reports and monitor the movement or transport of suspect animals, slaughter, processing, trading and distribution of undocumented pork or pork products for feeds or human consumption.

The team shall also check and verify the condition of swine during transport and shipping documents such as but not limited to certificate of ASF-free status, veterinary health certificate, shipping permit and livestock transport permit.

“The team shall conduct periodic monitoring/surveillance activity in distribution channels randomly to detect the presence of ASF,” the DA said.

It shall manage, contain, and control ASF in the affected areas and prevent the disease spread, including elevated surveillance and strict animal movement restrictions as guided by the National Zoning Movement Plan for ASF.

The DA emphasized that regulatory actions including including confiscation, condemnation, destruction, issuance of summons and legal sanctions shall be guided by applicable laws such as but not limited to the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

The team shall also be in charge of documentation of proceedings and issuance of summons to unscrupulous persons involved in the transport and or selling of suspected animals or hot meat.

It shall also carry out traceability and recall procedures for confiscated meat and meat products or render assistance and supervision in cases of voluntary recalls or withdrawals from the distribution chain.

The Philippine swine industry, worth about P200 billion a year, has been hit by the ASF since 2019.

Latest data show that the Philippines has a total of 7,845 ASF cases, based on the 13th follow-up report to the World Organization for Animal Health.

The country recorded 173 new outbreaks and an additional 84,064 hogs culled.

Government records show that more than 500,000 hogs have been culled, but stakeholders place losses at more than four million.

Of the new outbreaks, the highest number of culled hogs was in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur with 5,352.