MANILA – The Department of Agriculture on Friday announced a temporary ban on the importation of live swine, bovines, and water buffaloes, including certain animal products from South Korea and Hungary, following confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in said countries.

In a news release, the DA said that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate memorandum orders enforcing the ban after veterinary authorities in Hungary and South Korea reported FMD outbreaks in domestic buffaloes on March 7, and domestic cattle on March 18.

The cases were also confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

“We are imposing the ban to prevent the entry of the FMD virus and protect the health of the FMD-susceptible animal population,” Tiu Laurel said.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects livestock, including cattle, swine, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants, posing a serious threat to the livestock industry and the economy.

The DA said the ban covers imports of semen, skeletal muscle meat, casing, tallow, hooves, and horns from the two countries.

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

Products from animals slaughtered or produced before Feb. 17 in Hungary and Feb. 27 in South Korea, provided they test negative for FMD upon arrival, will be permitted entry.(PNA)