260 kg of meat burned in GenSan airport amid swine fever scare

GENERAL SANTOS CITY –– At least 260 kilograms of assorted meat products, which were contained in boxes bearing Chinese characters, were burned Wednesday night at the airport here amid the African swine fever scare gripping Luzon island.

Myrna Habacon, National Meat Inspection Service – Region 12 director, said airport authorities burned the intercepted meat products in the presence of veterinary quarantine workers.

“The meat products came from Manila. They were confiscated as part of the efforts to prevent the entry of animal diseases in the region,” she told the Inquirer.

Citing information from airport authorities, Habacon said an unnamed Chinese national who owns a restaurant in the city brought in the meat products.

She said meat products sold in the region’s markets were safe, noting all fresh meats were produced locally./lzb