PH, Brazil Nearing African Swine Fever Regionalization Pact for Stable Pork Trade

Manila and Brasilia are on the verge of signing a regionalization agreement concerning African Swine Fever (ASF), a move expected to ensure the stable flow of pork shipments. Typically, the Philippine government imposes nationwide temporary import restrictions to prevent the spread of dangerous communicable animal diseases. However, with a regionalization arrangement, import bans will be limited to specific zones affected by the disease. According to Gabriel Morelli Ribeiro, markets manager for the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), the Philippine government has approved the regionalization for ASF, though a formal circular on the agreement is yet to be issued. "The agreement has been settled, but it has not been officially published by the Philippines," Ribeiro stated. "While informally agreed upon by Brazil, it requires official publication to become concrete." The Department of Agriculture (DA) has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the signing of the regionalization deal between the two countries. Ribeiro expressed hope for the accord to become official this year, noting that Brazil has already fulfilled the necessary requirements. Estevao Carvalho, ABPA's executive manager of markets, however, described the signing of the ASF regionalization agreement as "less urgent." Brazil has been ASF-free since the 1980s, making its urgency less pronounced compared to diseases like avian influenza. Nevertheless, Carvalho emphasized the importance of regionalization agreements as vital tools for maintaining trade stability and food security. Notably, Manila and Brasilia had previously signed a regionalization agreement for avian influenza in September 2025.