Authorities on Tuesday intercepted a truck loaded with 10 boxes of chorizo and other goods that were en route to Mindanao via the city port here.
Dr. Alfonso Tundag, quarantine officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in this city, told the Philippine News Agency that the truck came from Cebu province on board a barge that arrived at the Tampi Wharf in Amlan, Negros Oriental.
From Amlan, the truck traveled to this capital city to board a vessel for Dapitan wharf, Tundag said.
Upon inspection, however, Tundag said they found medium-sized boxes with an estimated 15-20 kilos of chorizo in each box, without the necessary permits.
Quarantine inspectors confiscated the processed meat in the absence of documents from the BAI and the Food and Drug Administration, he said.
“Anything that does not have a shipping permit is subject to confiscation, including processed meat and other pork by-products, even coming from Cebu, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the African swine fever (ASF),” Tundag said in mixed English and Cebuano.
Negros Oriental remains to be free from ASF.
No arrests were made as the truck driver also did not have any knowledge as to the shipper/consignee of the chorizo. Only the chorizo shipment was confiscated.
Tundag said the confiscated boxes of meat products will be properly disposed of on Thursday at the BAI’s breeding station in the mountains of San Jose town, about 30 minutes drive north of this capital city.
Source: Philippines News Agency