Customs Airport district collector Carmelita Talusan has assured her office will continuously support the Bureau of Animal Industry in connection with the government’s effort to prevent a possible African Swine Fever outbreak in the country.
To date, more than 4,490 kilograms of meat and meat products have been seized at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by the Bureau of Customs and turned over to BAI for disposal from January to May.
The recent apprehension was on May 29 when Customs agents at the Manila airport intercepted a total of 84 kilos of imported meat from Japan with no BAI clearance and health certificate.
Talusan said the air passenger who brought the seized meat products failed to present the required import documents which are necessary to ensure no contaminated meat products enter the borders.
“The seized meat were confiscated and turned over by Customs NAIA to BAI-Veterinary Quarantine Services,” she said.
BAI officials said outbreak of the virus can affect the 40 million plus live hogs in the Philippines and can destroy the P2-billion worth swine industry in the country.
To safeguard against the epidemic, BAI personnel and Port of NAIA officials have intensified their campaign and are closely monitoring all terminals.
The Department of Agriculture also started deploying meat-sniffing dogs to airport terminals to prevent the entry of contaminated meat.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said he will be sending some 45 K-9 dogs in major airports to prevent the entry of fresh, frozen, cooked or uncooked animal meat and its processed meat coming from the affected regions.
If caught, violators of the meat quarantine protocol are liable for penalties from P50,000 up to P200,000.
Imported meat products will be allowed in the country if the importers have secured Phyto-Sanitary Permit from the port of origin, otherwise the meat will be confiscated and condemned.
In September and October last year, cases of pork meat products contamination have been recorded in Korea and Japan through dumplings and hotdogs products.