December 30, 2022

Philippines lift ban on imports of Italian cured pork products

The Philippines Department of Agriculture has lifted a ban on imports of Italian cured pork products and animal proteins, following the restriction of Italian live swine and related products announced on January 31 this year due to African swine fever (ASF), The Manila Times reported.

Domingo Panganiban, Philippines Agriculture Senior Undersecretary, said the overall estimated risk of ASF introduction through cured meat is low in products such as dry-cured hams, adding that the risk of ASF via meat imports from Italy following the recommended physical parameters is negligible, while exposure is estimated to be low, according to the OIE (Office International des Epizooties) Code and Annex VII to EU (European Union) Regulation 687/2020.

He said that the Italian government sent a formal letter to the Philippines on October 14, to consider lifting the ban. In the letter, the Italian government cited pertinent scientific literature to support its claim that the production of cured meats deactivates the ASF virus.

The temporary ban on the import of processed animal protein (PAP) from Italy was also lifted under Memorandum Circular 47, provided that the porcine PAPs had been processed in a facility that had been approved for export and that the necessary precautions had been taken to prevent contact of the product with any sources of the ASF virus.

PAP is a crucial component made from category 3-grade material that offers a local source of proteins for animal feeds.

-      The Manila Times