Philippines Imposes Temporary Ban On Spanish Pork Over ASF Outbreak

The Philippines has announced a temporary ban on all pig and pork imports from Spain following the detection of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the European nation, the Department of Agriculture confirmed.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel stated that the moratorium covers live pigs, pork meat, skin, and semen used for artificial insemination.

He reassured that the freeze would not tighten domestic supply or cause a price surge during the Christmas season.

“Cold storage is full,” Tiu Laurel said, emphasising that existing inventories are sufficient to meet the expected holiday demand.

Spanish veterinary authorities reported ASF cases among wild pigs in Sabadell, Vallès Occidental, Barcelona. They informed the World Organisation for Animal Health of these cases on November 28.

Following this report, the Department imposed the ban.

“The moratorium is essential to prevent ASF from entering the country and to protect both domestic and wild pig populations,” Tiu Laurel added.

Authorities have revoked all sanitary and phytosanitary permits for hog shipments from Spain to safeguard food security and public health.

Under the directive, only frozen pork products produced on or before November 11 and shipped by December 4 may enter the Philippines. Any shipments produced after November 11 will be returned to Spain.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, with a mortality rate of up to 100 per cent.

While harmless to humans, it devastates pig populations and the farming economy.

How ASF Spreads?

The virus is resilient in the environment and can survive on clothing, footwear, and vehicles, as well as in various pork products such as ham, bacon, and sausages. This makes human activity a key factor in its cross-border spread.

The outbreak threatens livelihoods in countries where pigs are a primary source of household income. It also contributes to global food insecurity, as pork provides over 35 per cent of the world’s meat intake.

ASF also impacts biodiversity, affecting wild boars and native pig breeds, with wider consequences for ecosystems.

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