The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the recall and seizure of imported pork meat products in the market as these may be contaminated with African swine fever (ASF).
During the meeting, National Sectoral and Strategic Concerns Committee – Committee on Poultry, Livestock, and Feed Crops (NSSCCs-CPLFC) Chairman Dr. Rufina Salas said that the hog raisers are requesting for a temporary two-month suspension on the importation of pork and pork products from ASF-affected and high-risk countries.
In effect, this will allow the Department of Agriculture (DA), thru the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and other related government agencies to strengthen preventive measures and actions related to the animal disease.
The hog raisers from across the country will also be appealing to President Duterte to issue an order for the strict implementation of preventive measures against ASF.
Piñol said that the high-risk countries will be defined as any country contiguous with an ASF-affected country. As this may impose potential threat, Piñol immediately ordered BAI to create a monitoring team that will identify and monitor these countries.
DA also seeks cooperation from the importers to support the country’s hog industry, adding that there is enough supply from the local meat producers.
To further secure and protect the swine industry, Piñol directed BAI to monitor animal feeds including dog and cat food containing hog-based meat and bone meal from ASF-affected countries. The DA will draft a letter to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to immediately suspend any documents that may allow the entry of the said products. He also directed the BAI to closely evaluate the point of origins of these products.
Vietnam
The initial impact of ASF has reduced the pig price in Vietnam, the average liveweight pig price of Vietnam is 35,000 vnd/kg (USD 1.50/kg). In the North the pig price is around 29,000 – 39,000 vnd/kg. In the Center of Vietnam is 28,000 – 39,000 vnd/kg and in the South is 30,000 – 37,000 vnd/kg. The pig price in The North of Vietnam has started to increase and the knock on effects of ASF means the northern market will have a shortage of pigs in next few months, with this plus the return to normal pork eating habits the price is expected to rise to at least the position prior to ASF in the region of 50,000 vnd/kg (USD 2.14) and may well surpass this.
The Government is encouraging the meat processing companies to keep ASF free pork in cold store to reduce the shortage expected in the next 6 months.
Since the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) confirmed its ASF outbreaks on 19 February 2019, a total of 54 provinces/cities reported outbreaks, more than 2,200,000 pigs have been culled, this leaves just 9 provinces free of ASF.
Vietnam has implemented movement control of pigs and pig products from affected communes; ASF positive farms have been depopulated according to the Action Plan for Emergency Response to ASF. On 20 March, MARD requested provincial/city people’s committee to allow healthy pigs in infected area to be slaughtered for consumption within: infected commune; infected district if >1 communes infected; or provinces if >1 districts infected. No movement from infected provinces is allowed. The Prime Minister Office announced on 7 March the increase of compensation for piglets and fattening pigs to 80%, and x 1.5 – 2.0 of normal compensation rate for sow/boar. The Prime Minister released a Directive (No. 4291 / VPCP-NN, 17 May) to review ASF response plans. The Central Committee of the Communist Party issued the Directive (No. 34-CT/TW, 20 May) to strengthen their leadership and operational instructions for effective implementation of ASF response, control and prevention, one of the directive priorities is setting criteria to restore pigs after an outbreak, to strengthen veterinary system and capacity to be able to carry out the tasks and to strengthen inspection. MARD issued its new guidance (3708/HD-BNN-TY, 28 May) on slaughtering pigs and consumption of pig products.
Cambodia
Since the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries confirmed its first ASF outbreak in Som Kaninh village, Som Thom commune, O Ya Dav District, Ratanakiri Province on 2 April 2019, more than 2400 pigs have died or been culled.
