ASF-positive meat seized in Manila

Despite an ongoing ban on the importation of pork from countries with African swine fever (ASF), the Manila City government on Wednesday afternoon intercepted illegal meat products from China that tested positive for the viral hog disease.

The smuggled shipment, which was traced to have come from Guangzhou, China, before it landed in Kawit, Cavite, contained 25 tons of pork celery dumplings that tested positive for ASF.

The Special Enforcement Squad of Manila’s Veterinary Inspection Board found the hot meat along with 998 cartons of chicken pot wrapped meat, 449 cartons of chicken with black pepper and 199 cartons of popcorn chicken in a warehouse owned by Ecosafe Agro-Products Manufacturing in Vitas, Tondo.

Further investigation showed that the company did not have a business permit for meat importation and cold storage. Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso already ordered the closure of the company, which was listed as a service contractor.

The Bureau of Customs, for its part, said in a statement that the hot meat had already been detected by the agency since it landed in Cavite, then transferred to Manila, following the Bureau of Animal Industry’s disposal plan.

The ASF-tainted products will be buried at the Pier 18 landfill in Tondo.

Customs assistant commissioner Vincent Maronilla also said in a phone interview with Inquirer that cases had already been filed against entities that were caught smuggling goods contaminated with the disease into the country.