Cebu City continues crackdown on ASF-tainted pork, products

CEBU CITY—The city government on Tuesday (Oct. 12) seized at least 61.5 kilograms of imported meat in several supermarkets, convenience stores and Korean shops.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, officer in charge of the city government’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), said the seized meat products—canned goods, processed pork and frozen pork—would be burned.

The seizure of the meat products was the second after 350 kg of meat and meat products was also seized between June and September this year.

Maribojoc said the seized meat products were mostly from China, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia—countries with cases of African swine fever (ASF).

“Those countries are positive of ASF and their pork products should not have been on display for consumption at all,” she said.

If ASF enters Cebu island, Maribojoc said it will have a huge impact on the pork industry, which would require killing all pigs and their carcasses’ burial within a one-kilometer radius. Backyard hog raisers would be severely impacted, she said.

The Central Visayas region is among the areas in the country that are still ASF-free. Strict border controls on the entry of pork products are being implemented both by the city and province of Cebu.

TSB