The Philippines plans to allow imports of pigs and pork products from Taiwan from May 14, after the nation was again certified as being free of African swine fever (ASF) early this month, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday
On April 6, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) restored Taiwan’s ASF-free status after the nation contained a local outbreak on a pig farm in Taichung’s Wuci District (梧棲). The outbreak was discovered in October last year.
The WOAH had recognized Taiwan as ASF-free in May last year, making it the first Asian country to achieve disease-free status for African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and classical swine fever.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
However, Taiwan reported an ASF outbreak in Taichung on Oct. 21 last year.
The affected farm was cleaned and disinfected, and all samples collected after Nov. 21 last year came back negative. The case was then formally closed and reported to the WOAH on Jan. 23 in accordance with procedures.
The Ministry of Agriculture on Feb. 21 submitted an application to regain ASF-free status, which was recognized by the WOAH this month.
Agricultural authorities in the Philippines have issued a notice to Taiwan’s representative office stating that restrictions on imports from Taiwan of frozen pork, pig skin and offal, stud swines and sperm used for breeding would be lifted next month, Cho said on Facebook.
The news followed the heels of a similar announcement from Singapore permitting Taiwan to export fresh pork to the city-state on April 11, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.
Taiwanese agricultural officials asked their counterparts in the Philippines to prepare to expedite the resumption of normal pork trade in December, after ascertaining that all ASF instances had been eliminated, it said.
Taiwan on Feb. 21 filed for the WOAH and Manila to certify Taiwan as ASF free, then applied for Manila’s permission to import, the ministry said, adding that both parties had full confidence in the nation’s competence in managing animal diseases.
In 2023, Taiwan first obtained authorization to export fresh pork from six producers to the Philippines, which had until then only allowed only frozen pork, it said.
The following year, Manila conducted on-site inspections to allow four Taiwanese producers to export pig offal and skin and seven producers to export stud swines, the ministry said.
The ministry continues to expand the international market for Taiwanese pork — especially Japan and Malaysia — by assuring trade partners that Taiwanese agricultural practices are trustworthy and safe, it said.
Having a diverse range of export partners is key to the development of Taiwan’s agricultural and animal husbandry sector, the ministry said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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