February 17, 2009
Philippines bans livestock imports from China
THE Philippines has temporarily banned the importation of animals from China following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth-disease in two provinces there.
In Memorandum Order 4 issued by the Department of Agriculture, Agriculture (DA), DA undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said there is a need to "prevent the entry of FMD-susceptible animals, their products and byproducts originating from the People's Republic of China to protect the health of the local livestock population."
The DA said that Dr. Yu Kangzhen national chief veterinary officer in China confirmed the country's subsequent FMD outbreaks in the country to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE).
The outbreaks with serotypes A and Asia 1 were reported in cattle farms in the provinces of Hubei and Xinjiang.
The Bureau of Animal Industry, an attached agency of the DA, has also suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance to import FMD-suspectible animals, including cattle and pigs, from China.
The DA also ordered all veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors in all major ports to stop and confiscate all shipments from China of FMD-susceptible animals, their products and byproducts.
The ban will make it easier for customs officials and port authorities to check the entry of illegal pork and beef from China.
Manila has been cautious against FMD-suspectible animals from China and other countries that might be bound for the Philippines as it runs the risk of infecting the local livestock population while it seeks FMD-free status for Luzon from the OIE.
