The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday assured consumers of ample pork supply for the Christmas season even as it imposed a temporary ban on pig and pork imports from Spain following a confirmed outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the European country.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the import freeze, which covers live pigs, pork meat, pork skin and even semen used for artificial insemination, will not drive up prices or tighten supply. “Cold storages are full,” he told reporters, noting that inventory levels remain more than enough to meet increased demand during the holidays.
The ban on Spanish pork follows a November 28 report by Spain’s veterinary authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health confirming ASF cases among wild pigs in Sabadel, Valles Occidental in Barcelona.
Tiu Laurel said the moratorium is necessary to “prevent the entry of the ASF virus and protect the health of local and wild pigs” while safeguarding food security and public health. All sanitary and phytosanitary permits for hog imports from Spain have been “automatically revoked,” he added.
Only frozen pork products produced on or before November 11, and which were loaded/in transit/ accepted unto port on or before December 4, 2025, will be allowed for entry into the Philippines. Any shipments produced after November 11 shall be returned back to Spain.
