June 4, 2024

Philippines temporarily bans UK live cattle, meat imports

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced a temporary ban on the imports of UK live cattle and meat products, following a case of Mad Cow Disease in Scotland earlier in May, GMA Integrated News reported.

The DA's Memorandum Order 20 covers imports of UK live cattle, meat, meat products, bovine processed animal proteins, and cattle semen.

The DA said the ban was due to the detection of a classical strain C-type BSE in South Ayrshire in Scotland on May 10, 2024, as reported by the World Organization for Animal Health-World Animal Health Information System.

Philippines Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel said the ban was a precautionary measure to protect consumers and the safeguard the local livestock industry valued at PHP 260 million in 2023.

Shipments from the UK already in transit, loaded, or accepted unto port would be allowed entry into the Philippines, if slaughtered or produced before April 10, 2024.

-      GMA Integrated News