Slovak meat products banned amid FMD scare

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily halted the importation of animals and animal products from Slovakia following confirmed cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in domestic cattle in the European nation.

This comes as Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order No. 21 last Tuesday, prohibiting the entry of live swine, cattle and water buffaloes, as well as products including semen, skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves and horns.

The action follows a report by Slovak veterinary authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on 2 March 2025, regarding the outbreak. While the WOAH continues to classify the Philippines as FMD-free, Laurel stressed that the ban is a precautionary measure to protect the local livestock industry.

He added that the virus poses a significant threat to animals such as swine and ruminants, including cows, carabaos and goats.

The DA clarified that the importation of certain animal products from Slovakia will still be permitted. These include ultra-high-temperature milk and its derivatives; heat-treated meat products in hermetically sealed containers; protein meals and gelatin; in vivo-derived bovine embryos and limed hides, pickled pelts and semi-processed leather.

“Shipments that were already in transit, loaded, or accepted into port before the official communication of the order to Slovak authorities will be allowed entry, provided that the products were slaughtered or produced on or before 6 March and have been tested negative for FMD upon arrival at the port of entry,” the DA said in a statement.

The agency has also suspended the processing, evaluation and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for all affected animal products originating from Slovakia.