Philippines bans livestock imports over FMD

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) imposed a temporary ban on importing live animals and certain animal products from seven countries—Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, and Palestine—following confirmed outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) serotype SAT1. The ban, enacted under Department Circular No. 39, prohibits entry of live swine, cattle, water buffaloes, and other FMD-susceptible animals, as well as fresh skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves, horns, and animal semen. The decision was prompted by an official report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) confirming the outbreaks, validated through laboratory testing coordinated with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reference network. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized a science-based, precautionary approach to protect the livestock industry and food security. Products classified as 'safe commodities' by WOAH, such as UHT milk, heat-treated canned meat, and processed hides, remain allowed subject to strict import requirements. Veterinary quarantine officers have been deployed at Philippine ports to enforce the ban and confiscate prohibited shipments. The Philippines imports virtually no live animals or fresh meat directly from the affected countries, sourcing mainly from Brazil, the United States, and Spain, so the direct trade impact is minimal.