Working Conditions Aboard the Balsa-91

In a significant move aimed at safeguarding public health, inspectors from the Executive Directorate of Agricultural Quarantine, part of Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), discovered 80 pounds of pork originating from the Dominican Republic aboard the 'Balsa 91' vessel. This inspection took place at the Chiriqui Grande Terminal in the Bocas del Toro province after the ship's arrival on August 4, 2021. Authorities have issued a zoosanitary alert in Panama due to rising concerns over African Swine Fever (ASF). The agricultural quarantine inspectors conducted their operation upon the ship's docking, as the vessel prepares to load raw sugar intended for export to the United States. The pork in question was traced back to supplier Pedro Macori. While the 'Balsa 91' is moored for three days, the ship's crew is restricted from accessing the refrigerators within the galley, which remain sealed and under custodial supervision until the vessel departs from port. An official record of the retention and custody of the seized pork has been documented.