DA: Swine, cattle imports from Hungary, S. Korea banned due to FMD

The Philippines has banned the importation of live swine, cattle, and water buffaloes, including their semen, skeletal muscle meat, casing, tallow, hooves, horns from South Korea and Hungary due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate memorandum orders imposing the importation ban after reported FMD cases in domestic buffaloes in Hungary on March 7, and in domestic cattle in South Korea on March 18.

The Agriculture Department said both FMD cases in Hungary and South Korea were confirmed by the countries' respective veterinary authorities and reported the same to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

FMD is a severe and highly contagious disease that affects livestock, causing significant economic impact.

Animals susceptible to the virus include cattle, swine, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

"We are imposing the ban to prevent the entry of the FMD virus and protect the health of the FMD-susceptible animal population," said Tiu Laurel.

The DA said exemptions from the ban include ultra-high temperature milk and derivatives, heat-treated meat products in hermetically sealed containers, protein meal, gelatin, in vivo-derived bovine embryos, limed hides, pickled pelts, and semi-processed leather.

The Agriculture Department said products from animals slaughtered or produced on or before February 17 for Hungary, and February 27 for South Korea, and tested negative for FMD upon arrival will also be allowed entry. — VDV, GMA Integrated News