Philippines Bans Animal Imports From Seven Countries Following Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks
Key Takeaways
- •The Department of Agriculture banned imports of live animals and animal products from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, and Palestine after the FAO confirmed FMD serotype SAT1 outbreaks in those countries.
- •The SAT1 serotype is typically associated with sub-Saharan Africa, and its detection across multiple Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean nations represents a notable epidemiological event.
- •Banned items include live swine, cattle, water buffalo, fresh skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves, horns, and animal semen, while WOAH-classified safe commodities such as UHT milk and heat-treated canned meat remain eligible under strict import requirements.
- •The Philippines was officially recognized by WOAH as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination in 2015 and aims to preserve that status through stringent border controls.
- •Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that swift action against emerging disease risks is essential to protecting food security, farmers' livelihoods, and public confidence in the domestic food supply.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on imports of live animals and animal products from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, and Palestine following confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in those nations.
According to the DA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations confirmed outbreaks of the FMD virus serotype SAT1 in the seven countries. The confirmation followed laboratory diagnosis conducted by the World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and the World Organisation for Animal Health's (WOAH) reference library network. The SAT1 serotype is one of seven FMD serotypes and is most commonly associated with sub-Saharan Africa, making its appearance across multiple Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean countries a notable epidemiological development.
In a department circular, the DA directed veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors to halt and confiscate shipments of prohibited animal commodities arriving at all major ports of entry. The banned items include live swine, cattle, water buffalo, and other FMD-susceptible animals, along with fresh skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves, horns, and animal semen.
However, the department clarified that products classified by WOAH as "safe commodities" will remain eligible for entry, provided they meet strict import requirements. These products include ultra-high temperature milk and dairy products, heat-treated canned meat, protein meal, gelatin, and certain processed hide and leather products, all subject to prescribed veterinary certification and processing standards.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. stated that while the DA remains committed to facilitating safe agricultural trade, its foremost priority is protecting the health of the domestic livestock industry.
"The Philippines has worked hard to protect its livestock sector from devastating animal diseases," Mr. Laurel said in a statement issued by the DA. "Acting swiftly against emerging risks is essential to safeguarding food security, protecting farmers' livelihoods and preserving public confidence in our food supply."
The Philippines was officially recognized by WOAH as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination in 2015, a status the DA has sought to maintain through stringent border controls. FMD is classified by WOAH as a listed disease with significant implications for international livestock trade, as outbreaks can trigger widespread import restrictions from trading partners. The highly contagious viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and buffaloes, and can spread rapidly through direct contact, contaminated equipment, and animal products.
— Marron Joshua F. Mendoza
