February 18, 2019

Philippines suspends pork imports from Vietnam over swine fever concerns
 

In response to revelations that pork samples from Vietnam had been tested positive for African swine fever (ASF) by quarantine authorities, Manny Piñol, Agriculture Secretary of the Philippines, has called for a temporary suspension of importing pork and pork products from that country to the Philippines, INQUIRER.net reported.
 

The ban went into effect immediately, Piñol announced on his Facebook page. The action was recommended by Dr. Ronnie Domingo, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The bureau has been instructed to impose the ban with immediate effect even though the memorandum to implement it has yet to be signed, Piñol said.

"The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world which is free from livestock diseases, including foot and mouth disease," he added.

"Vietnam is the latest to be included in the list of countries which could not ship pork and pork products to the Philippines because of ASF."

- Inquirer.net