Vigilance rewarded! SUBIC QUARANTINE SEIZE MEAT BALLS FROM CHINA

Port of Subic, Zambales – Quarantine Officers of the Department of Agriculture seized on May 29 a refrigerated container from China which yielded meat balls hidden behind boxes of fish tofu, which was the declared cargo.

Dr. Romeo Manalili of the Veterinary Quarantine Station of the DA Bureau of Animal Industry in Subic reported that Quarantine Inspectors became suspicious of the content of the van after they noticed that the temperature was at 18° C the desired cooling level to preserve meat products.

“The shipment was declared as fish tofu but the VQS became suspicious as the temperature of the van was being maintained at 18°C,” Dr. Manalili reported.

Quarantine Officers Dr. Jose Leo Galicia and Dr. Ruben Diaz ordered the inspection of the van which was opened in the presence of the Bureau of Customs seaport representatives Daniel Turralba and Kumar Buxani.

The inspection team discovered packs and boxes of meat balls hidden behind boxes of fish tofu.

China is one of the 17 countries affected by the African Swine Fever, a deadly hog disease which has no known vaccination or cure.

Already, the ASF has wiped out at least 30 percent of the hog population of China causing a rise in the country’s inflation rate.

The DA has banned the entry of pork and pork products from the ASF-affected countries.

Following the Subic Port interception, the DA has ordered a 100% inspection of all refrigerated vans, especially those coming from ASF-affected countries.

The DA will also recommend to the Department of Finance and the BOC to file appropriate charges against the importer.

The DA will also ask its legal team to prepare charges against the importer for violation of the Food Security Act.

#EternalVigilanceWillSaveUs!

#ProtectFilipinoHogRaisers!

(Photos show the intercepted shipment in Subic Port and the meeting of all DA Quarantine Officers with the Food and Drug Administration officials yesterday at the BAI main office in Quezon City.)