Photo courtesy of PNA.
The Department of Agriculture has lifted its temporary ban on the importation of livestock and animal products from Hungary after international animal health authorities restored the country’s foot-and-mouth disease-free status.
The DA said the decision followed the World Organisation for Animal Health’s recognition that Hungary’s containment zone had complied with global standards for areas free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.
The import suspension had been imposed earlier this year through Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 16 as a preventive measure after an outbreak of the disease was reported in Hungary.
Under Department Circular No. 34, the Philippines will again allow the entry of foot-and-mouth disease-susceptible animals, meat and animal by-products from Hungary.
The department said all imported shipments would still undergo the country’s existing sanitary and veterinary inspection requirements.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government remained committed to protecting the local livestock industry from transboundary animal diseases while ensuring that reliable sources of imported food remained available once international health standards confirmed that risks had been addressed.
The new policy will take effect 15 days after its publication on the DA’s official website and its registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register.
The DA said reopening the market to Hungarian livestock products formed part of its strategy to diversify agricultural import sources, strengthen food security and reduce the impact of supply disruptions caused by disease outbreaks, climate events and global market volatility.