THE Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered a temporary ban on the entry of live cattle and meat products from the United Kingdom following a recent case of mad cow disease in Scotland earlier in May.
Under Memorandum Order (MO) 20 issued on May 30, 2024, the DA ordered a temporary ban that covered the importation of live cattle, meat, meat products, bovine processed animal proteins, and cattle semen from the United Kingdom.
The DA has yet to release a copy of the MO but noted that this was due to the detection of a classical strain C-type BSE in South Ayrshire in Scotland on May 10, as confirmed in a report by the World Organization for Animal Health-World Animal Health Information System.
“Given the potential risk to the consumers and to protect the local livestock industry which plays a significant role in the Philippines’ economy and was valued at P260 billion last year, Secretary Tiu Laurel has imposed a temporary import ban emphasizing the importance of precautionary measures to safeguard public health,” the DA said.
According to the DA, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, more widely known as mad cow disease, can cause fatal nerve damage in cattle, and its entry and possible spread in the Philippines could impact the livestock industry and compromise food safety.
This could also cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, which could manifest through brain shrinkage and deterioration.
The department noted, however, that all shipments from the UK that were already in transit, loaded, or accepted unto port would be allowed entry, provided that these were slaughtered or produced before April 10, 2024.
“The DA will implement more stringent inspections of all arrivals of meat and meat by-products derived from cattle, including live animals and bovine processed animal proteins at the ports of entry, ensuring that only non-infected and safe commodities shall enter the country,” it said. (GMA Integrated News)
