Cebu City requires ASF clearances for hog, pork shipments entering city
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City authorities now require hog traders, meat transporters, and motorboat operators to secure a new set of documentary clearances before transporting live hogs, pork, and pork products into the city, tightening biosecurity measures against African Swine Fever (ASF) following a recently contained suspected case.
The Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) issued the advisory to remind all transporters that they must comply with the documentary requirements under Executive Order No. 86, which Mayor Nestor Archival signed on July 10 to strengthen the city’s defenses against the highly contagious swine disease.
The advisory, released on July 21, specifically covers traders transporting live hogs from other provinces and operators of motorized boats carrying hogs and pork products into Cebu City.
The DVMF said the requirements form part of the city’s enforcement of the executive order, which regulates the movement of live hogs, pork, and pork by-products as part of broader efforts to keep Cebu City free from ASF.
READ: Cebu City bans hogs, pork products amid ASF threat
Documentary requirements
For live hogs coming from another province, transporters must present the following:
- Recognition of Active Surveillance on African Swine Fever and a Certificate of ASF-Free Status issued by the Provincial Veterinary Office of the hogs’ province of origin
- ASF negative laboratory test result
- Veterinary Health Certificate indicating Cebu City as the destination
- Local Shipping Permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry-National Veterinary Quarantine Service
- Livestock Handler’s Permit issued by the Department of Agriculture
- Certificate of Acceptance issued by the Cebu City DVMF
For pork and other pork products, transporters must secure the following:
- Meat Inspection Certificate for freshly slaughtered meat or a Certificate of Meat Importation for imported pork, both issued by the National Meat Inspection Service
- Certificate of Acceptance issued by the Cebu City DVMF
- Local Shipping Permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry-National Veterinary Quarantine Service
The city government urged transporters to obtain the required documents before shipping hogs or pork products into Cebu City to avoid delays or possible violations during inspections.
Strengthened ASF controls
The latest reminder comes as Cebu City continues to reinforce movement controls after authorities successfully contained a suspected ASF incident in one of the city’s southern barangays earlier this month.
Archival earlier said veterinary personnel immediately collected blood samples after at least 20 hogs from a piggery exhibited symptoms consistent with ASF. The city withheld the identity of the barangay to protect the affected raiser.
Authorities immediately culled and buried all affected hogs and established a controlled perimeter around the piggery to prevent the suspected virus from spreading.
Archival later announced that the city had returned to its ASF-free status after containment operations prevented further transmission.
The affected hog raiser also received assistance from the city government, while the Department of Social Welfare and Services processed additional financial aid.
Why movement controls matter vs African Swine Fever
ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs but does not infect humans.
Although the disease poses no food safety risk to people, it can kill nearly all infected hogs during severe outbreaks and inflict significant economic losses on raisers and the pork industry.
The virus spreads through infected animals as well as contaminated meat products, feed, vehicles, equipment, clothing, and other materials exposed to the virus.
Because no commercially available cure exists for ASF, veterinary authorities rely on strict biosecurity protocols, surveillance, culling of infected animals, and movement restrictions to stop transmission.
Executive Order No. 86 temporarily regulates the entry and exit of live hogs, pork, and pork by-products within Cebu City as part of those preventive measures.
The DVMF continues to conduct surveillance and testing across the city, while the city’s ASF Task Force, composed of veterinary, agriculture, disaster response, police, and port authorities, maintains inspections and enforcement activities.
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