MANILA, Philippines — The temporary ban on the importation, distribution, and sale of processed pork meat products — including Ma Ling — from countries believed to be affected by the African swine fever virus now covers 16 countries, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday.

The FDA said the ban now covers processed pork meat products from Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Moldova, and Belgium.

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The ban, which was initially imposed in September 2018, previously only covered seven countries–China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.

Officer-in-charge of the FDA Eric Domingo said that the order seeks to ensure that the virus would not affect the country.

“I signed that order. It is a step taken to ensure the food security of our country and make that our livestock is not affected by the African swine fever,” Domingo told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

Domingo also confirmed that popular processed pork meat products such as Ma Ling is covered by the ban.

“Yes [Ma Ling is covered by the ban]. The FDA regulatory board will go around and inspect. We also ask the public to report any sightings [of these banned products] to the FDA,” Domingo said.

The FDA explained that the disease is a “highly contagious” hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar and American wild pigs that causes fever, loss of appetite, hemorrhages in the skin and internal organs, and even death to affected animals.

While the disease is not considered a “human health threat”, the FDA said the disease cause major economic loss in the swine industry.

INQUIRER.net has contacted the Department of Agriculture for more information regarding the ban. The agriculture department, however, has yet to respond as of posting time. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)

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