Aurora province bans live hogs, pork products
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government of Aurora has banned the entry of live hogs and processed pork products into the province effective August 30, 2022.
This, following the reported cases of the African swine fever (ASF) infecting farms and raisers in its neighboring Central Luzon provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.
Aurora Governor Christian Noveras signed on August 22 an executive order directing the "total ban" on the entry of all live hogs and pork products from provinces with current ASF cases until September 30, 2022.
Noveras' order stemmed from an Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry report that said provinces were among the areas with active ASF cases or classified under the red zone from July 16 to August 4.
The governor directed municipal governments in the province monitor the sale of pork and frozen pork products in various public and flea markets as well as other establishments within their territorial jurisdiction.
Noveras urged all hog farmers and operators of slaughterhouses and abattoirs in the province to practice maximum biosecurity and high standards of hygiene and sanitation.
He also instructed provincial veterinary quarantine facilities and checkpoints to monitor different entry and exit points in the province for hogs and pork products.
Noveras authorized the Provincial Veterinary Office and its municipal counterparts to conduct surveillance on meat establishments and hog farms within their areas of jurisdiction.
“Aurora province is currently undergoing recovery from the effect of ASF and is now classified under the yellow category based on the National Zoning and Movement Plan,” he said.
Farm owners and workers are advised to report suspected cases of any animal disease or occurrence of above normal mortality in their farms.