DA sets more entry requirements for feed from ASF affected countries

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it issued new requirements for the import of plant-based feed products from African Swine Fever (ASF)-affected countries.

In memorandum circular no. 8, series of 2019, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said that among the documents needed for entry of shipments include an ASF declaration form from an independent third-party surveyor, which states the last outbreak date of ASF from the country of origin.

The outbreak declaration should follow the announcement of the World Organization for Animal Health on ASF outbreaks, including information on the length of the last ASF outbreak. The required information includes whether the latest outbreak lasted more or less than two months. For outbreaks of less than two months, the shipment from the affected country is subject to quarantine.

The circular prescribes a quarantine period of 20 days from the day the feed was loaded onto the vessel.

If the feed is from non-Asian countries where transport takes at least 20 days, it may be cleared by the quarantine officer at the Port of Entry.

If the feed is from an Asian country and transportation takes less than 20 days, the circular prescribes a 10-day quarantine period.

The DA has banned pork products from ASF-affected countries like Belgium, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Zambia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and North Korea.

Additional security measures at the ports include meat-sniffing dogs, X-ray machines to inspect packages from affected countries. —