Cebu City has mandated that all hog traders and transporters secure specific documentary clearances before bringing live hogs and pork products into the city. This decision follows a recent suspected case of African Swine Fever (ASF), which city officials quickly contained.
Stringent Biosecurity Measures Enforced
Transporters must comply with the documentary requirements under Executive Order No. 86, signed by Mayor Nestor Archival.
Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF)
- Certificate of ASF-Free Status from the Provincial Veterinary Office
- Veterinary Health Certificate with Cebu City as the destination
- Local Shipping Permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry
The new regulations, outlined in an advisory from the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), are part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the city from ASF. Transporters must obtain various clearances, including:
- Meat Inspection Certificate for fresh pork
- Certificate of Acceptance from the Cebu City DVMF
- Local Shipping Permit for pork products
These measures come in response to a recent incident where a local piggery reported symptoms indicative of ASF. Immediate actions included culling affected hogs and establishing a quarantine perimeter.
Cebu City previously declared itself ASF-free after effective containment strategies were implemented. However, the recent developments highlight the ongoing risks associated with this viral disease, which poses no threat to human health but can devastate local hog populations.
The city government emphasizes the importance of these regulations to prevent ASF's spread, which can severely impact the local pork industry and economy.