BANNED. The province of Aurora will impose a temporary ban on the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork by-products from nearby areas of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, 2022. These provinces were among those areas with current cases of African swine fever. (File photo courtesy of DA-Region 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The provincial government of Aurora will impose a temporary ban on the entry of live pigs, pork, and pork processed products from nearby areas hit by the African swine fever (ASF) effective Aug. 30.
Governor Christian Noveras, in his executive order signed Aug. 22, directed the total prohibition on the entry of all swine/pigs and pork and pork products from provinces with current ASF cases such as Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac until Sept. 30.
In his order, Noveras said the three provinces were among the areas with active ASF cases or classified under the red zone as reported to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) from July 16 to Aug. 4.
“Aurora province is currently undergoing recovery back from the effect of ASF and is now classified under yellow category based on the National Zoning and Movement Plan,” he said.
These four zones, depending on the area’s ASF status, were red (infected zone), yellow (surveillance zone), pink (buffer zone), and light green (protected zone).
To effectively implement the order, the governor ordered all municipal governments in the province to strengthen the monitoring of the selling of pork and frozen pork products in various public/flea markets and other establishments within their territorial jurisdiction.
In order to strengthen biosecurity, he said all hog farmers and operators of slaughterhouses/abattoirs are enjoined to practice maximum biosecurity and high standards of hygiene and sanitation.
The provincial veterinary quarantine facilities and checkpoints are also instructed to conduct strict monitoring of different entry and exit points in the province for hogs and pork products.
The Provincial Veterinary Office and its municipal counterparts, on the other hand, are authorized to conduct disease investigation surveillance and monitoring of all meat establishments and hog farms within their respective jurisdiction.
“They shall advise farm owners and workers to report suspected cases of any animal disease or occurrence of above normal mortality in their farm,” Noveras said.
Also, swill feeding and giving out of swill feed by restaurants, hotels, and the like to any person shall be prohibited within the province. (PNA)
