The import ban was introduced in two stages: on Sunday for Spain and on Monday for Taiwan. The restrictions apply to live animals, meat, by-products, and swine semen used for artificial insemination.
“We must remain vigilant to prevent further ASF infections, as this is critical for protecting jobs and investments,” Agriculture Minister Francisco Tiu Laurel said in a statement.
The ban on Spanish pork came after Spain officially reported ASF cases among wild boars in the province of Barcelona to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on November 28. Taiwan likewise reported its outbreak.
The ministry stated that all existing import permits for pork from Spain and Taiwan have been “automatically revoked.” An exception has been made only for frozen pork produced in Spain no later than November 11 and shipped no later than December 4 — these consignments will still be allowed entry into the Philippines.
ASF is not dangerous to humans but spreads rapidly among domestic pigs and wild boar, causing severe economic losses. Several countries have already introduced their own restrictions following the outbreak in Spain.