Phl bans Taiwan pork imports over ASF outbreak

The Philippines has imposed an immediate ban on the importation of live pigs and pork-related products from Taiwan after authorities there confirmed an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), a move aimed at shielding the country’s hog industry from renewed disruption.

Announced Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the moratorium covers live swine, pork meat, pig skin, and all pork-derived commodities—including semen used for artificial insemination. The order, issued by DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., takes effect at once and will remain in place until formally lifted.

“We have to be vigilant in preventing further ASF infections to protect jobs and investments in the swine industry and ensure food security and consumers’ health,” said Tiu Laurel, underscoring the financial and supply-chain risks if the virus spreads back into local farms.

Taiwan previously notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 25 October of an ASF outbreak among domesticated pigs in Taichung City, with laboratory confirmations from its Veterinary Research Institute. The Philippines’ response aligns with WOAH’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code, which prescribes strict preventive measures when ASF is detected in exporting territories.

Under the DA directive, all previously issued Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances for affected Taiwanese products are revoked, and applications for new permits are suspended. Veterinary quarantine officers across all ports have been instructed to block and seize any shipments containing prohibited items.

The DA’s swift response intends to avoid a repeat of earlier ASF waves, which the department says wiped out herds, drove up pork prices nationwide, and weakened investor confidence in the livestock sector. While cases remain contained in parts of the Philippines, officials say keeping out new virus strains is essential to restoring long-term industry stability.

The DA previously issued a temporary ban last month on the importation of wild and domestic birds, as well as poultry products from the Netherlands after reports of an outbreak of bird flu. The agency said it will continue to monitor the ASF situation closely while tightening biosecurity protocols to ensure safety across nationwide pork products.