SEIZED. Some 14 cans of China-made Ma Ling canned luncheon meat are seized from a grocery store in Murcia, Negros Occidental during an inspection of the Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force on Friday morning (Sept. 27, 2019). Ma Ling is one of the nine brands listed on the Food and Drug Administration Order 2019-046, which directs all importers, distributors, retail outlets and other dealers to immediately recall all pork meat products imported from countries suspected to be tainted by the ASF virus. (Photo courtesy of NegOcc Provincial ASF Task Force)
BACOLOD CITY – As the Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force here intensified its campaign, more imported canned pork products were seized in Negros Occidental in a series of inspections conducted in the Third District this week.
On Friday morning, task force personnel, along with the staff of the Municipal Agriculture Office in Murcia town, confiscated 14 cans of banned pork products, mostly the China-made Ma Ling luncheon meat, from a grocery store.
This came on the heels of the confiscation of 21 cans of Ma Ling during an inspection at the public market in Silay City on Tuesday.
Ma Ling is one of the nine brands listed on the Food and Drug Administration Order 2019-046, which directs all importers, distributors, retail outlets and other dealers to immediately recall all pork meat products imported from countries suspected to be affected by the ASF virus.
The inspections were conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) District Field Unit III under officer-in-charge Dr. Modesto Joseph Cañonero III.
The task force vowed to strengthen its education campaign on ASF awareness and ensure the proper implementation of the ASF Prevention and Control Program.
Last August 22, the task force chaired by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson seized several cans of Ma Ling during an inspection at a supermarket inside 888 China Town Square in Bacolod City.
To ensure the safety of the PHP6-billion swine industry of Negros Occidental, including backyard swine producers, the provincial government has implemented a 90-day ban on pork products from Luzon.
The ban covers live pigs, pork, pork products and by-products from Luzon whether fresh, processed or canned which can carry the ASF virus.
On Thursday and Wednesday, the task force quarantine team sent back to Manila hundreds of kilograms of pork products that arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport and Bredco Port here.
Last Saturday, the task force also seized at least 27 kg. of pork asado siopao from Luzon that arrived at the airport. The 34 packs of siopao were burned immediately. (PNA)
