DA bans live cattle, buffalo, products from 4 countries due to lumpy skin disease
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the importation of live cattle and buffalo and their products from Libya, Russia, South Korea, and Thailand following outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in those countries.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order No. 6, which prohibits the entry of live cattle, buffalo, and their products from the mentioned countries. This includes milk and milk products, embryos, skin, and semen. The order was issued on Feb. 1 and is effective immediately.
The ban was a result of official reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health noting LSD outbreaks affecting cattle and buffaloes in the four nations from November to December 2023. Laurel emphasized the need to prevent the entry of LSD virus to protect the health of the local cattle and buffalo population.
In line with the suspension, the DA also halted the processing and evaluation of applications for the import clearance of the mentioned commodities. Additionally, DA veterinary quarantine officers were directed to inspect all arrivals of milk and milk products, embryos, skin, and semen derived from cattle and buffalo at ports of entry.
The country imported a total of 35.7 million kilos of buffalo meat products in January to November 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Animal Industry.
