The Agriculture department on Wednesday ordered the banning of pork and pork products from Germany after the Philippines was almost exposed to African Swine Fever through a pork shipment from that country.
A recent investigation by the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that a shipment of pork from Germany was combined with about 250 kilos of pork from Poland, prompting the confiscation of the German meat shipment.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol warned importers not to mix meat products, especially during times when the Philippines faces affliction threats from outside markets.
The National Meat Inspection Service and the Bureau of Animal Industry conducted the joint investigation after Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries tipped off national agencies on the incident.
Based on the report, the shipment was intercepted at 3 a.m. on June 27, and was subsequently disposed of by burning.
Poland is one of 18 countries with a reported outbreak of the African Swine Fever, a deadly hog disease that has no vaccine or cure.
Germany, though not included in the list, is still near Poland. The shipment from Germany also contained 25 boxes of suspect meat from Poland.
Animal Industry director Ronnie Domingo said the incident was a serious violation that warranted the banning of all pork shipments from Germany.
The ban brought to 19 the total number of countries that are not allowed to ship pork and pork products to the Philippines.