The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a temporary ban on imported pork products from Singapore.
Under Memorandum Order no. 20 series of 2023 dated March 6, the DA stopped the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products and byproducts including pork, skin, porcine processed animal proteins and semen from the said country.
The agency said Singapore is not an accredited country to export any swine related commodities to the Philippines but cited the need to prevent the entry of any products from any country that is susceptible to African swine fever (ASF) through hand carried products from international vessels or any other possible routes.
A report submitted by the chief veterinary officer, director general of the Animal and Veterinary Services of Singapore to the World Organization for Animal Health on February 5 indicated the outbreak of ASF in a nature park in North-West Singapore affecting wild boar.
The DA said the order also implements immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance of said commodities from Singapore.
The order also warrants the stoppage and confiscation of all pork shipments from Singapore to the Philippines by all veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors at all major ports of entry. -Jed Macapagal
