China bans PHL pork imports over swine fever

CHINA has banned imports of pigs, wild boars, and related products from the Philippines following reports of swine fever outbreaks received by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

China’s General Administration of Customs and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued Announcement No. 66 on May 14, 2026, prohibiting direct or indirect imports from the Philippines, as well as the mailing or carrying of swine products into China.

The order also orders the destruction of any illegally smuggled items and supervised treatment of animal waste from transport originating from the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) responded on May 19, clarifying that the Philippines is managing two separate swine diseases.

Classical swine fever, an endemic condition, is controlled through vaccination, surveillance, and farm biosecurity protocols. African Swine Fever (ASF), first detected in 2019, remains an issue managed through movement controls, biosecurity measures, culling, and surveillance in affected areas.

Only eight barangays in the Philippines reported active cases of ASF in April, against 20 in the previous month and 65 a month earlier, the BAI reported.

Since 2019, the disease has been detected in 6,574 barangays.

The BAI said that the Philippines does not currently export live pigs or swine products to China, meaning the restrictions have no immediate trade impact.

The BAI said the two countries share a commitment to disease eradication and biosecurity, noting their adherence to WOAH standards. — Pierce Oel A. Montalvo