The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on pork imports from Taiwan, which was imposed months ago due to an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).
In Department Circular No. 19 dated April 20, the DA removed restrictions on domestic and wild pigs and their products, including pork meat, pig skin, and semen. The agency cited a negligible risk of contamination from importing these commodities from Taipei.
The ban was originally implemented in December last year after an ASF outbreak in October affected pigs in Taichung City. According to data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, the Philippines imported only 23,342 kilograms of meat from Taiwan last year, a 94.6% decline from the previous year.