INTERCEPTED. The undocumented pork products found inside a transport van at the Bredco port in Bacolod City during the inspection conducted by the Negros Occidental Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) task force, headed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 11, 2019). The pork products have been transported from Cebu and supposed to be shipped to Iloilo. (Photo courtesy of Richard Malihan/PIO Negros Occidental)
BACOLOD CITY -- The Negros Occidental Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force intercepted five tons of undocumented pork products at the Bredco port here on Wednesday afternoon.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who chairs the task force, checked the items together with the staff of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), led by co-chair Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, and personnel from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
Decena said the seized items included mechanically-deboned meat worth about PHP500,000.
The pork products have been transported from Cebu and supposed to be shipped to Iloilo through Bredco port at the reclamation area here.
“These are undocumented products so these will be confiscated and destroyed and buried two meters deep,” Decena said.
He added that the PVO has contacted the consignee, who claimed to have forgotten to process the necessary permits and other documents.
The pork products, which came from Germany, were intended for the manufacture of chorizo.
Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of PVO Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division, said although Germany was not confirmed to have been infected by the ASF virus, pork products from the said European country are banned in the Philippines.
“Germany is situated near Poland, which is said to be ASF-infected,” he added.
Meanwhile, the ASF task force, in Resolution 19-04 dated September 10, recommended to the Provincial Board to temporarily ban pork and pork products originating from Luzon -- processed or manufactured -- from entering Negros Occidental for a period of 90 days.
In Resolution No. 19-03, the body also urged operators and owners of hotels, resorts, and restaurants in the province to refrain from disposing of food wastes/leftovers to be used for swill feeding.
On Tuesday, Lacson appealed to travelers not to bring pork to Negros Occidental in the wake of the confirmed cases of ASF in Luzon.
According to the Department of Agriculture, ASF caused the depopulation of more than 7,000 hogs in Bulacan and Rizal farms last month.
The governor formed the ASF task force to ensure the protection of the PHP6-billion swine industry of Negros Occidental, which is the country’s top backyard swine producer. (PNA)
