Monitoring of hogs in Quezon tightened

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — The provincial government of Quezon has imposed strict monitoring of live pigs and meat products that were being transported in and out of the province to prevent the possible spread of diseases affecting swine species.

Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez issued Executive Order No. 35 on Thursday after the Department of Agriculture confirmed  incidents of hog mortality in some areas in the country.

Suarez said that pigs may only be allowed entry if they had “veterinary shipping permits, veterinary health certificates and laboratory test result for breeder pigs.”

Pork and other pork products shall be allowed entry if accompanied by a “Meat Inspection Certificate for local meat and Certificate of Meat Inspection for all imported meat,” EO 35 said.

The order also requires vehicles to be thoroughly cleaned before they are disinfected at veterinary checkpoints set up in Tiaong, Sariaya and Lucban towns.