Gov’t agencies intensify airport security over contaminated pork meats, products

The Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Animal Industry had intensified the country’s boarder security against possible entry of contaminated pork meats and meat products from African Swine Fever high-risk countries.

According to the bureau, an interagency meeting between the officials of Port of NAIA, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and National African Swine Fever Task Force was held Monday to implement stricter policy to guard the country on possible entry of pork meats and meat products from African Swine Fever Virus affected countries – China, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.

Briefings and information dissemination to Customs frontliners of NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 have been conducted to strengthen the vigilance against African Swine Fever.

Customs-NAIA will continuously coordinate closely with regulating agencies to secure the borders against entry and exit of prohibited, regulated goods to protect the swine industry and livelihood in the Philippines, Port of NAIA District Collector Carmelita Talusan said.

The customs official furthered that safe meat products accompanied by import permit or the Sanitary and PhytoSanitary Import Clearance are the ones qualified for release in ports.

Fliers of Customs guidelines, which include documentary requirements of all regulating agencies for import and export needed to be issued for NAIA stakeholders, were provided to BAI.

In September and October 2018, cases of pork meat products contamination have been recorded in Korea and Japan through dumplings and hotdog products.

According to BAI, outbreak of the virus can affect the over 40 million live hogs/pigs in the Philippines and can destroy the P2 billion worth of swine industry in the country.