October 10, 2023

Philippines suspends entry of pig and pork from Sweden

The Philippines has temporarily banned the entry of pig and meat products from Sweden.

Covered by the ban ordered by the country's Department of Agriculture are live pigs, pork, pork skin and pig semen to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in the Philippines.

A report submitted by Sweden to the World Organization for Animal Health indicates an ASF outbreak affecting wild boar in Fagersta, Sweden, in August.

"Sweden is an accredited country to export swine-related commodities to the Philippines, and there is a need to prevent the entry of any ASF-susceptible products originating from Sweden that might enter the country through hand-carried products from international vessels or any other possible routes," the DA said. "There is a need for regulatory controls through sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to protect human and animal health."

The DA also ordered the immediate suspension of processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of SPS import clearance for pork products. Veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors are allowed to stop and confiscate the said commodities at all major ports of entry.

However, shipments from Sweden that were already in transit and were slaughtered or produced before August 6 will be allowed entry.

The Bureau of Animal Industry said Sweden shipped 3.31 million kilogrammes of pork into the country from January to August 2023 and a total of 4.12 million kilogrammes in 2022.
 

- The Manila Times