THE Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) has confiscated 1,400 kilograms of meat products declared unsafe for consumption since January 2022.
It has also intercepted and seized another 314 kilograms of pork products from areas infected with African Swine Fever (ASF) in an effort to protect the city’s hog industry from the infection fatal to pigs.
DVMF head Dr. Jessica Maribojoc told SunStar Cebu on Monday, December 19, 2022, that the confiscation of meat products from supermarkets and public markets was in accordance with City Ordinance 2189, or the Revised Meat for Public Consumption Regulatory Ordinance.
She said some of the meat products were in violation of Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Orders 5 and 6, which set guidelines on the local transport of animal products and the hygienic handling of chilled, frozen and thawed meat in meat markets, respectively.
Maribojoc said that aside from the confiscation of the meat products, those who were caught selling them were also issued citation tickets worth P5,000 each.
The DVMF has been relentless in its campaign against the entry of pigs and pork products from other areas hit by the swine fever.
Maribojoc said only Central Visayas in the entire country remains free from the swine disease.
Personnel from the DVMF are stationed 24 hours in the port area to make sure incoming passengers from outside Central Visayas do not carry pork products, she said. (IRT, PJB)