Philippines lifts ban on pork importation from Belgium

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday announced that it has lifted the ban on the importation of pigs and its by-products from Belgium amid the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.

The DA issued Memorandum Order No. 55, s. 2020, dated October 26, which lifted the temporary ban on the importation of domestic pigs and their products including pork meat and semen originating from Belgium.

In its order, the agency said that the ASF outbreaks in the European country only affected wild boars with the last documented case in March as stated in Belgium’s report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

It said that “Belgium is now free of ASF.”

The DA banned the importation of hogs and pork products from Belgium in October 2018 following the confirmation of ASF outbreaks in the country. — BM, GMA News