Philippines hint at longer ban on Canadian pork imports

As reports of a man infecting pigs with influenza A(H1N1) virus in Canada are being downplayed, Philippine authorities hinted on Wednesday (May 6) at a longer ban on pork imports specifically from Alberta.

The Bureau of Animal Industries (BAI) officer-in-charge Davinio Catbagan said the association initially banned pork imports from the US, Mexico and Canada as a precaution against the entry of the A(H1N1) virus, but already lifted the ban on US and Mexico and we expect to lift the ban Wednesday (May 6) or Thursday (May 7) on pork imports from Canada except for Alberta.

Earlier reports said a farm worker in Canada has infected a herd of pigs with swine flu, the first documented case of the virus being passed from human beings to animals.

The herd of pigs was quarantined after testing positive for the influenza A(H1N1) virus after the worker returned from Mexico with the disease, but officials stressed there was no food safety concern related to this finding.

Meanwhile, Catbagan similarly downplayed reports that pork imported from Canada was being sold in markets in Pasay City.

He said the pork likely came in before the influenza A(H1N1) virus scare erupted, adding that there is nothing to fear in terms of pork meat.