PH bans pork from Japan due to swine fever

“At 12 noon today, I have alerted the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) through (DA) Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano, to immediately impose a ban on the entry of pork and other pork products from Japan following reports of its spread in that country,” said DA Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol on his Facebook page.

He said a written formal directive will be issued shortly which will be in effect while quarantine officials are validating the reports with the OIE or the World Animal Health Organization.

“In view of this, all quarantine officers in ports of entry all over the country are directed to implement this directive immediately,” he added.

The quarantine officers were also advised to review their Quarantine Protocols, including the foot baths installed at the Ports of Entry and the monitoring of all meat products being brought into the country by tourists.

According to a report from The Japan News, the ASF virus gene was identified in four separate cases in Japan on Jan. 12 and 16, when it was found in carry-on baggage brought from China at Chubu Airport in Aichi Prefecture and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

The virus is believed to enter countries via international mail and foreign tourists’ carry-on baggage.

ASF is a viral disease that infects pigs and boars.

It does not infect humans. The virus survives in the bodies of animals for three to six months, and spreads via feces and the raw and processed meat of infected animals.

It also spreads through watering places and other mediums that have come into contact with infected animals.