By CESAR JOLITO III
The Moises Padilla municipal government issued an executive order prohibiting the illegal and unauthorized sale of imported meat and meat products without the necessary permits and clearances, as part of biosecurity measures to protect public health and safeguard the local livestock industry.
Under Executive Order No. 293, signed by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo yesterday, the municipality ordered stricter regulation of the entry, storage, distribution, and retail sale of imported meat products within its jurisdiction.
The order cited concerns over reported incidents of illegal trading, technical smuggling, and the sale of imported meat products in public markets, satellite markets and online platforms without the required quarantine and inspection documents.
The order emphasized that imported meat products, particularly pork and poultry, must undergo stringent inspections by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service to ensure they are free from transboundary animal diseases, including African swine fever (ASF).
As a designated “pink zone,” Moises Padilla continues to enforce preventive measures aimed at protecting its hog and livestock sectors from disease outbreaks.
The executive order makes it unlawful for any individual or business entity to sell, distribute or offer imported meat products without the required permits and documentation.
Violations include the sale of imported meat without a valid Certificate of Meat Inspection (COMI), operating without the necessary business permits, selling undocumented or expired products, and marketing improperly handled frozen meat as fresh meat.
To strengthen enforcement, the municipality created a monitoring and apprehension task force composed of representatives from the Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Health Office, Philippine National Police, Municipal Economic Enterprise and Development Office, and barangay officials from all 15 barangays.
The task force has been authorized to inspect public markets, supermarkets, warehouses, and other establishments.
Imported meat products found without the required COMI, sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance and local permits will be subject to immediate confiscation and disposal.
The executive order took effect immediately upon signing and will remain in force until amended or revoked.
La Castellana bans hogs, pork products
Meanwhile, the La Castellana municipal government is set to temporarily prohibit the entry of live hogs, pork meat, semen, and processed pork by-products as part of heightened biosecurity measures against a potentially devastating swine disease.
Local officials announced that the temporary ban took effect yesterday, even as the formal executive order is still being finalized.
The move aims to protect the town’s swine population and safeguard the local hog industry from the spread of the disease, which has raised concerns among livestock producers and agricultural authorities.
The measure is a preventive action designed to strengthen biosecurity protocols and minimize the risk of infection reaching farms within the municipality.
The official executive order, which will outline the scope and implementation of the ban, is expected to be released by La Castellana Mayor Añejo Nicor.
Local authorities urged residents, livestock traders, transporters, and other stakeholders to cooperate with the temporary restrictions while the municipality works to protect the local hog sector from potential outbreaks./CCJ, WDJ