Northern Samar bans hogs, pork from Luzon, Davao

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — A ban on the entry of pigs, pork and processed meat from Luzon and Davao has been imposed in  Northern Samar for at least four months as a precautionary measure against African swine fever (ASF).

In an executive order (EO) issued on Thursday last week, Gov. Edwin Ongchuan said pigs and by-products from Eastern Visayas are allowed to enter the province as long as their shippers present the necessary documents.

Ongchuan said chicken, pork, fish and other products from ASF-free countries could enter the province only if such products have accompanying sanitary and phytosanitary import or veterinary quarantine clearance from the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Passengers carrying pork and related products, including boar semen, whether preserved, extended or frozen, are advised to dispose the items in designated receptacles at the ports in the province upon arrival.

Cargoes containing live pigs with no documentary quarantine requirements are not allowed to disembark at the port of entry and will be shipped back to its point of origin at the expense of the shipper.  

The EO also imposed quarantine procedures for shipments of live animals, processed meat and comingled meat products.

The National Meat Inspection Service had earlier said the ASF virus could spread through comingling of meat, fish, chicken, processed meat and other food with contaminated pork and its by-products.

Ongchuan also ordered the adoption of an ASF plan and creation of a task force to prevent the spread of the swine disease.