Polish pork from zones not affected by ASF to be allowed for import

THE PHILIPPINES entered into a bilateral regionalization agreement with Poland that will allow the resumption of pork imports from parts of that country not affected by African Swine Fever (ASF).

According to Department of Agriculture (DA) Memorandum Order (MO) No. 1, signed on Jan. 14, the Philippines adopted an ASF regionalization scheme for Poland in lieu of a blanket ban on products from the entire country regardless of the outbreak’s location. The regionalization measure is authorized by DA Administrative Circular No. 12, series of 2025.

According to the MO, the Bureau of Animal Industry reviewed documentary submissions from Polish veterinary authorities and concluded that “Poland maintains sufficient veterinary oversight and has established necessary control and mitigating measures against ASF, ensuring that there is low risk of importing swine products, and by-products, including meat from identified proposed zones for recognition.”

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease lethal to swine and wild boars. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel