Philippines bans livestock imports from Lebanon and Taiwan

The Philippines has temporarily banned imports of livestock from Lebanon and Taiwan following outbreaks of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in those countries.

The ban was imposed to protect the domestic livestock industry, said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The ban was imposed shortly after the World Animal Health Organisation confirmed the outbreaks in the pig farms of Taiwan and dairy cattle farms in Lebanon.

Yap said he has directed officers and inspectors to suspend the processing of all quarantine certificates of live animals to be imported from Taiwan and Lebanon. He has also ordered the confiscation of all such commodities and byproducts from Taiwan and Lebanon.