PHL allows PAP imports from Asf-hit nations
THE Philippines has allowed the importation of processed animal proteins (PAPS) for aquatic feed use from African swine fever (Asf)-affected countries.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Order (MO) 59 that authorized the importation of PAP even from countries with confirmed ASF outbreaks “subject to pertinent precautionary measures and guidelines.”
The DA made the decision after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the concurrent agriculture secretary, directed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to issue guidelines on the importation of porcine PAPS from Asf-hit countries.
The DA said Marcos made the directive “to prevent further serious impact on the aquaculture sector.”
Since April, various leaders and representatives from the aquaculture sector have been lobbying for the lifting of the import ban on porcine PAPS from Asf-infected countries to ensure that fish prices would remain stable.
Food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan said the blanket ban on porcine PAP could raise fish prices by P2 per kilogram. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2022/04/25/da-pressedto-lift-ban-on-processed-animalprotein-from-italy/)
In January, the DA temporarily banned the importation of pork products, including PAP, from Italy after the European country confirmed an outbreak of ASF. Italy accounts for about 70 percent of the 150,000 metric tons of PAP the country imports annually.
“This Order is hereby issued to allow the importation of Processed Animal Proteins from African Swine Fever-affected Countries solely for aquatic feed use following Memorandum Circular No. 34 Series of 2022 ‘Guidelines on the Importation of Processed Animal Proteins from Countries Affected with African Swine Fever for Aquatic Feed Use’ issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry,” MO 59, which was signed by Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian, read.
MO 59 indicated that aquaculture is one of the biggest contributors to the Philippine economy with more than 2 million registered fisherfolk nationwide. MO 59 stated that porcine PAPS is a “crucial” raw material in the aquaculture feed manufacture to sustain the local aquaculture industry.
“Based on the Import Risk Assessment (IRA) conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for PAPS, the risk of entry of the virus through the import of PAPS from Asf-affected countries is considered to be medium while the risk of exposure is estimated to be low,” the document read.
Citing the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (TAHC) of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), MO 59 indicated that the ASF virus is inactivated when meat is heated for at least 30 minutes at a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius.
“Therefore, the risk of transmission of ASF virus through the inclusion of PAPS in aquatic feed diets is low, given that the feed ingredient is subjected to several manufacturing processes with a temperature sufficient to inactivate the ASF virus.”
In a joint position paper earlier this year, the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc., Samahan Industriya ng Agrikultura and Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines said lifting the ban on PAP imports from countries with cases of ASF will “expose the fragile and recovering” swine industry to further threats from contaminated raw materials. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/04/20/hograisers-oppose-lifting-of-banon-porcine-animal-protein/).