Sinag calls for strict agri imports inspection amid new Chinese hog disease

An umbrella organization for agricultural stakeholders, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), renewed its call on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement the First Border Policy in response to a new strain of hog disease discovered in China.

The DA assured local consumers that the Philippines does not import swine or pork products from China and has imposed an importation ban since last year due to African swine fever outbreaks.

Despite this, Sinag urged for stricter inspection of agricultural commodities at entry points to prevent potential threats like the new strain of swine flu.

DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes reiterated that importing pigs and pork products from China is still prohibited.