Ban on meat products from Argentina issued

The Department of Agriculture has issued a temporary ban on the importation of foot-and-mouth disease-susceptible animal products originating from Argentina after recent reports of FMD virus outbreak in the area.

Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban has issued a memorandum for the ban of animal and or meat products after receiving a report from the Office of the International Des Epizooties, submitted by the President of the National Agrifood Health and Quality Service Dr. Jorge Nestor Amaya of Buenos Aires, that there is an outbreak of foot and mouth disease-virus type O in Argentina.

Panganiban said that there is a need to prevent the entry of FMD-susceptible animals, their products and byproducts originating from Argentina.

He also said that the memorandum was issued as some parts of the country have been importing meat like cattle from the place.

As an emergency measure for the protection of the public, Panganiban ordered the stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of FMD-susceptible animals, and their products and byproducts in Argentina by all DA Quarantine officers and inspectors in all seaports and airports.

He also issued the immediate suspension of the issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance for applications relevant to the importation of the said commodities from Argentina by the Bureau of Animal Industry. - Jasmin R. Uy