PH lifts import ban on Hungarian livestock

The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has lifted the temporary ban on importing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible animals and related products from Hungary.

In a statement on Thursday, the DA said the move followed the World Organisation for Animal Health's (WOAH) decision to reinstate the FMD-free status of Hungary's containment zone.

It said that the WOAH confirmed that the area complies with international animal health standards where vaccination is not practiced.

The DA said the earlier import suspension was put in place under DA Memorandum Order No. 16, series of 2025, as a precautionary safety measure following an FMD outbreak in Hungary.

Under the newly issued Department Circular No. 34, imports of Hungarian FMD-susceptible animals, meat, and animal by-products are cleared to resume. All incoming shipments will remain subject to existing DA sanitary and veterinary regulations.

The new order is set to take effect 15 days after its publication on the DA’s official website and its registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.

"We remain uncompromising in protecting the country's livestock industry from transboundary animal diseases, but we also recognize the importance of keeping reliable supply channels open once international standards confirm that risks have been effectively managed. This balanced approach strengthens food security and helps stabilize prices for Filipino consumers," said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

The DA said the reopening of the country’s doors for Hungarian livestock and meat supplies aligns with the agency’s broader strategy to diversify the country's agricultural sources.

By securing multiple supply origins, the department said the government aims to reduce supply chain risks and improve market resilience against global disease outbreaks, climate disruptions, and volatile food markets. —VAL, GMA News