The Philippine government on Sunday announced that a temporary ban on most Canadian pork imports has been lifted as pork consumption is proved not to transmit Influenza A H1N1 virus that has claimed more than 50 lives worldwide.

The lifting of the temporary suspension on pork imports from Canada followed the earlier government move to remove similar trade restrictions on the commodity originating from influenza affected zones in North America where the virus originated and where almost all human death cases were reported.

The Department of Agriculture said, however, pork products coming from Canadian province of Alberta will still be banned for flu concerns.

Davinio Catbagan, head of the department's animal industry bureau, said the swine farm in Alberta is still under quarantine although no pig mortality was reported there. Canada has reported 242 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death as of 06:00 GMT May 9, the World Health Organization said on its website.

The Philippines bought less than 5 percent of its pork consumption demands from abroad, with Canada being the major source of origin for pork imports.

The Philippines has yet reported any suspected or confirmed Influenza A H1N1 case so far but has put 20 patients under close observation. Fifteen of them were safely discharged from the hospital.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2009)