Returning OFWS’s Canned Goods Detected w/ African Swine Fever
CANNED GOODS – The authorities seized canned meat products detected with African Swine Fever from a returning Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
Previously, news reports about the African Swine Fever, a viral disease that can be passed on through meat products, crossed the surface. Undeniably, it alarmed a lot of people following the detection of positive cases in other countries.
It has reached the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) prompting the Philippines’ declaration of pork import banning.
Up until now, pork products from the following countries are banned in the pursuit of maintaining the ASF-free Philippines:
- China
- Hungary
- Poland
- Latvia
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Romania
Recently, an update regarding the issue surrounding the African Swine Fever crossed the surface.
Based on a report on GMA News, Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol confirmed that canned goods detected with African Swine Fever were previously seized from a returning OFW.
According to the Agriculture Secretary, the canned meat products were seized in Clark Airport in Pampanga on March 25, 2019. Reportedly, the carrier of the products was from Hong Kong.
Based on the report, previously, there was an OFW who called for the retrieval of confiscated canned meat products amid the tight ban on pork import from other countries.
Meanwhile, amid the detection of the African Swine Fever on canned good products brought by an OFW from Hong Kong, Piñol assured that Philippines remains as ASF-free.
“So far, no African swine fever infections have been reported in pigs in the country,” he said.
