The ban includes those carried by hand – with pork, pig skin, and pig semen cited as examples. - Reuters
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Travellers to the Philippines carrying pig products from Singapore will have their items confiscated, after a temporary ban imposed by the country’s Department of Agriculture on Monday (March 6) following the detection of African swine fever here.
Although the Republic is not an accredited exporter of porcine products to the Philippines, the ban includes those carried by hand – with pork, pig skin, and pig semen cited as examples.
The ban will remain in force unless a revocation is issued in writing, said Domingo Panganiban, the Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture.
Besides confiscating such products at all major ports of entry, the Philippines would not be issuing any Sanitary and Phytosanitary import clearances henceforth, he added.
Such clearances are required when importing animals, animal feed and ingredients, as well as animal products and by-products into the country.
The latest restriction on pig products from Singapore comes after African swine fever was detected in a wild boar carcass in the north-west in February.
The disease infects only wild boars and pigs, and affects multiple body systems, such as the respiratory and circulatory systems. However, it is not transmissible to humans.
While Singapore does not have any pig farms, wild boars are native to the country and can be found in nature reserves, parks, and other green spaces.
In February, Taiwan similarly imposed restrictions on the importation of pork products from Singapore.
Those who do so face a fine of NT$200,000 (S$8,789) for the first offence while repeat offenders will be fined NT$1 million.
If they are unable to pay the fine, they will be denied entry and repatriated.
The Straits Times has contacted the Singapore Food Agency for more information.
