THE Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 stepped up its defense against the entry of the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus in the region, burning 100 kilos of fresh and processed pork meat and meat by-products confiscated from inbound passengers.
In its official Facebook page, the DA 7 reminded the public of the prohibition of the entry of meat products from countries affected by the ASF virus.
“The confiscation and burning are in compliance with the stringent implementation of the order issued by DA on the banning of entry of pork or any meat and meat by-products, especially from countries affected with the ASF,” it stated.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are also advised not to bring any meat-type pasalubongs if they come from the countries with ASF outbreaks.
The identified countries are South Africa, Zambia, China, Russia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Ukraine.
Importation of meat from these countries is banned since the DA released an order last August.
The agency also established a task force mandated to be on guard of products that might infect the hogs in the country.
Members of the ASF task force also dispose of the confiscated products together with the concerned agencies.
Foodbaths were installed in points of entry like international seaports and airports as humans and their baggages can be carriers of the deadly virus that only affects swines.
Hogs infected by the virus only have two to 10 days to live because it has no vaccine available.
Central Visayas is the fifth top swine producer in the Philippines while the country is the eighth biggest swine producer in the world.
The confiscation and disposal were conducted by the personnel of the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Service, the Bureau of Customs and police assigned at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. (JOB)