AMID the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild pigs and related products originating from Italy due to a reported case of African swine fever (ASF), several stakeholders from the aquaculture sector are appealing to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to allow the importation of porcine processed animal proteins (PPAP) from the Italy and other similarly situated countries strictly for the use in aquafeeds.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) last February stopped the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearance for the importation of PPAPs originating from Italy as ordered by the Agriculture department through the department's Memorandum Order 5, Series of 2022. This was a result of a singular report of the presence of ASF in one wild boar last January.