The Philippines has imposed temporary import bans on all pork products from Spain and Taiwan following confirmed outbreaks of African swine fever in both countries, with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasizing the critical need for vigilance to protect the nation's multibillion-peso hog industry, thousands of jobs, and food security for Filipino consumers.
The ban on Spanish pork—coming from the European Union's largest pork producer—was triggered after Spain's veterinary authorities reported to the World Organization for Animal Health on November 28 that ASF cases were detected among wild pigs in Sabadell, Valles Occidental in Barcelona, while Taiwan's ban followed an October 25 report confirming an outbreak affecting domestic pigs in Taichung City, as verified by Taiwan's Veterinary Research Institute.
The comprehensive prohibition covers live pigs, pork meat, pig skin, and even semen used for artificial insemination, with all previously approved sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances automatically revoked and new applications suspended until further notice, demonstrating the government's unwavering commitment to preventing the highly contagious disease from entering Philippine borders.
Despite the dual import restrictions, Secretary Tiu Laurel assured the public that cold storage facilities remain fully stocked with ample inventory to meet the increased demand during the Christmas holiday season, promising that the bans will not drive up pork prices or create supply shortages, with only frozen pork products from Spain produced on or before November 11 and loaded or in transit by December 4, 2025, permitted entry.
Taiwan represented a relatively new and minor supplier to the Philippines, having shipped just 23.34 metric tons of pork products in the first nine months of the year according to the Bureau of Animal Industry, while the Department of Agriculture continues intensifying biosecurity enforcement measures and closely monitoring regional developments to maintain investor confidence, protect hog raisers, and ensure the stability of the country's pork supply chain amid ongoing global ASF threats.
