The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued an order prohibiting the import of pork products from Singapore due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country.

Under Memorandum Order No.20 series of 2023 dated March 6, it stated that the importation of domestic and wild pigs including meat, pigskin, porcine processed animal proteins, and semen are temporarily banned.

The processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance shall be immediately halted.

All veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors at all major ports of entry are directed to seize all shipments of the aforementioned commodities.

Last February 5, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) declared that there was an ASF outbreak in Singapore, and this was confirmed by the Centre for Animal and Veterinary Services.

"There is a need for regulatory controls through Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures to protect human and animal health," DA said.

The said memo order, signed by DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, shall take effect immediately unless it was revoked.