1 month ago
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on the importation of animal commodities from Germany following a recent outbreak of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Under the DA’s Memorandum Order (MO) No. 8, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel emphasized the urgent need in preventing the entry of the FMD virus to protect the health of the country’s cloven-hoofed livestock population.
The order came after Germany notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) of confirmed FMD cases on a water buffalo farm in the state of Brandenburg.
In a Feb. 5 report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is not yet confirmed whether this is an isolated case or if other herds have already been infected.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and buffaloes. It poses a high mortality rate, particularly among young animals.
Laurel said the import ban will be in effect until Germany regains its FMD-free status issued by the WOAH.
The DA chief also ordered a suspension on processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearances for Germany’s animal products.
Under MO 8, certain products are exempt from the ban, such as ultra-high temperature milk and derivatives, heat-treated meat products in hermetically sealed containers, protein meal and gelatin, and in vivo-derived bovine embryos.
These also includes limed hides, pickled pelts, and semi-processed leather, which is still subject to the Philippines' import terms and conditions.
The entry of products that are already in transit, loaded, or arrived at local ports may be allowed, provided that they were slaughtered or produced before Dec. 26, 2024, and tested negative for FMD virus.
Based on DA data, the Philippines imported 3,177.5 metric tons (MT) of beef from Germany. This accounts for approximately 0.5 percent of the country’s total beef imports.
The import ban on Germany’s animal goods closely followed an earlier ban on poultry products from two new US states, namely Maryland and Missouri.
The prohibition of American poultry products stemmed from the rapid spread of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the US.
The DA earlier imposed a ban on imports coming from South Dakota.
