AROUND 100 kilos of confiscated fresh and processed pork meat and meat by-products from inbound foreign travelers were burned by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Service and Bureau of Customs assigned at the Mactan Cebu International Airport on Friday, February 15.
The move was done to prevent entry of the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) virus that affects hogs, the DA-Central Visayas stated in its official Facebook account.
The ASF virus can kill hogs within two to 10 days and there is no vaccine against it, said the DA, but added it has no effect on humans, but they can be carriers of the virus.
Countries that are banned from importing meat products in the country are South Africa, Zambia, China, Russia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine due to ASF virus outbreak.
The Philippines is the eighth biggest swine-producing country in the world, while Central Visayas is the fifth top hog producer region nationwide.
Also confiscated Friday were poultry meat products in compliance with the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu prevention measures. (JOB)