MANILA, Philippines — No cattle or livestock from Paraguay will be allowed into the country following the outbreak of the food-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the landlocked Latin American country.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced the ban Tuesday after the Paris-based Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or the World Animal Health Organization confirmed the outbreak.
In Memorandum Order No. 2, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the temporary ban on the importation of FMD susceptible animal products and by-products from Paraguay will stay until there is a declaration that the outbreak has been contained.
The ban is imposed universally to protect herds from being infected as well as to prevent the possible entry of unsafe meat products.
Alcala also issued Memorandum Order No. 3, which also slapped a temporary freeze on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, from Melbourne and Victoria, Australia.
source: mb.com.ph
