DA orders import ban on live cattle from Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has banned the importation of live cattle and buffalo from Japan amid the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD).

Tiu Laurel issued Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 57 imposing a temporary prohibition on the importation of live cattle and buffalo, their products and by-products including milk and milk products, embryos, skin and semen from Japan.

“Based on the official report submitted by the Director of Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan to the World Organization for Animal Health on Nov. 15, there was an outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease in Maebaru, Fukuoka, Japan affecting domestic cattle as confirmed by National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization,” Tiu Laurel said.

He added that there is a need to prevent the entry of LSD, also known as Neethling virus, to protect the health of the local cattle and water buffalo population.

According to Tiu Laurel, skeletal muscle meat, casings, gelatin and collagen, tallow, hooves and horns are allowed as these are considered safe commodities and are not included in the temporary restriction, subject to the Philippines’ import terms and conditions.

He said live bovines and water buffaloes, including semen and embryos are covered by the ban.

LSD is a viral disease that primarily affects cattle, often leading to severe complications or death. Symptoms include fever, nodules on the skin and internal organs, significant weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, and fluid accumulation under the skin.

India carabeef ban

Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor said that the carabeef ban should be expanded to one more state of India amid the outbreaks of foot and mount disease (FMD) in Uttar Pradesh.

“Given this news report on FMD outbreak in Pilibhit district (Uttar Pradesh) and following the regulations of our Department of Agriculture, disallowing carabeef imports from FMD-hit states in India, shouldn’t carabeef imports from Uttar Pradesh be stopped now?” Montemayor said.

The FMD has affected around 60 percent milch cattle in Pilibhit district. Stray cattle are also at risk of being infected with the highly contagious disease.

Tiu Laurel has issued MO No. 59 banning the importation of Indian buffalo meat from Indian states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana.

Tiu Laurel said that there is a need to prevent the entry of FMD-susceptible animals, their products and by-products originating from Bihar, Maharashtra and Telangana to protect the health of the local livestock population.

According to veterinary scientists, the infection can be transmitted to humans by consuming raw or pasteurized milk of the infected cattle.

Bureau of Animal Industry Director Diosamia Sevilla told the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) that the agency would “investigate” and “validate” news reports about the FMD outbreak in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh earlier this year.

PAMPI argued that a temporary import ban on three other Indian states of Bihar, Maharashtra and Telangana cannot be sustained without implementing the same measure on Uttar Pradesh since it has reported FMD outbreaks. — Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas