DA bars entry of animals, animal products from Slovakia on FMD fears

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily barred the entry of animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from Slovakia to prevent the highly contagious virus from entering the country and affecting local livestock.

According to Memorandum Order No. 21, the DA recognized the need to prevent the entry of the FMD virus and “protect the health of the FMD-susceptible animal population”; thus, the temporary ban on animals and animal products from Slovakia, which reported FMD cases last month.

READ: DA bans foot-and-mouth disease susceptible animals from Germany

The directive dated April 3 prohibits the entry of skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves, and horns, as well as live swine, bovines, and water buffaloes (family Suidae, family Bovidae, family Cervidae), including semen.

It excludes ultra-high temperature milk and derivatives, heat-treated meat products in hermetically sealed containers, protein meal, gelatine, in vivo-derived bovine embryos, and limed hides, pickled pelts, and semi-processed leather.

The DA has suspended the processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC) for these commodities.

All shipments from Slovakia that are either in transit, loaded, or accepted into port before the Philippine government transmits a copy of this memo to Slovakian authorities will be accepted as long as the commodities were slaughtered or produced on or before March 06 and tested negative for the FMD virus upon arrival at the port of entry.

The agency issued the order after Slovakia reported FMD cases affecting domestic cattle in Dunajska Streda, Trnavsky, to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on March 21.

According to the WOAH, FMD is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock with a significant economic impact. It affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

“It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products,” it said.

Although the virus is endemic in several parts of Asia, the WOAH noted that the Philippines is FMD-free, and vaccination is not practiced.

On the other hand, various news reports said Slovakia declared an emergency last month after recording six outbreaks in recent weeks.