THE Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force of Negros Occidental, through the personnel of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), continues to seize pork and pork-based products coming from Luzon this week as part of the enforcement of the ASF Prevention Ordinance.
Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of PVO Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services Division, said on Friday they have removed canned goods like pork and beans and meatloaf during an inspection at a supermarket in La Castellana, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.
The items, which have been sourced from Luzon-based manufacturers, will be returned by the establishment to its distributors.
On Monday, about 25 kilograms of pork products from Luzon have been seized and disposed upon arrival at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental. These included food products such as chicharon and puto pao, and processed food like ham, tocino and longganisa.
“Aside from prohibiting entry, the provisions of the provincial ordinance include permanent banning of sale, distribution, transportation, and storage of pork and other pork products coming from Luzon and other ASF-affected areas,” Janoya said.
The ASF Prevention Ordinance, which took effect on Dec. 9, 2019, prohibits the entry of live pig, boar semen, pork, and pork products, including food items containing pork originating from, and/or processed in Luzon and countries affected with ASF.
Violators may face penalties ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 and a one-year imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offense.
Negros Occidental, the country’s number one backyard hog producer, with a P6-billion swine industry, has enforced the ban since Sept. 18 last year through an executive order of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
On Nov. 26, Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer signed Provincial Ordinance 2019-024, otherwise known as “The ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental”, to keep the province virus-free. (PNA)
