Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko urged the public to report if they find Chinese pork products on sale at local markets. He made the call after the government ordered all pork products from China be pulled from market shelves across the province.
According to the board member, the decision to remove Chinese pork products was a precautionary measure to protect the province’s hog industry.
“We are not sure if the pork products brought here has disease or not and, besides, in other countries, they have already banned them from being sold,” Ko added.
He also clarified, the current ban only covers Chinese pork as other Chinese meat products remains safe for consumption.
Last Thursday, Provincial Veterinary Office head, Dr. Renante Decena, and Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the removal of Chinese pork products from major grocery stores in Bacolod City.
Among the brands ordered to be removed from market shelves include Narcissus, Heaven Temple, Ma Ling, Shabu Shabu, Sol Primo, Wang Taste of Korea, Highway, Sky Dragon, and Weilin.
Decena also assured the public there is no African swine fever in Negros Occidental.
In addition, the Department of Agriculture also earlier announced they have recorded several “suspicious” deaths of hogs in some areas of the country./DGB, WDJ