Imported meat products seized at Port of Clark

Authorities have confiscated at the Port of Clark pork, beef and poultry products possibly contaminated with African swine flu.

A total of 72.3 kilograms of pork, beef and poultry products were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BoC) at the Port of Clark starting December last year until Jan. 8, 2019, after finding out that they were brought into the country without necessary permits.

According to the bureau, the products were brought in by passengers coming from South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Spain, and USA.

The banned goods were discovered during inspection of check-in and hand-carried luggages of incoming passengers at the Clark International Airport.

It was also then discovered that the goods had no Import Permit or Sanitary/Phyto-sanitary Import Clearance declaring that the products would cause no harm to the public.

Based on the Bureau of Animal Industry’s inventory, from Dec. 1, 2018 to Jan. 8, 2019, a total of 31.5 kgs of pork products, 18.5 kgs of beef products and 22.3 kgs of poultry products were confiscated. The meat products have been turned over to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for destruction.

Mandatory x-ray inspection of luggages of incoming passengers and physical examination of marked luggages are being implemented as part of the BoC and BAI heightened measures over possibly contaminated meat products from African Swine Flu high-risk countries.

Foot baths have also been established at airports’ entry points.