The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned the importation of live cattle and water buffalo — along with their products and by-products — from France and Italy after confirmed outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the two countries.

The restriction, issued under Memorandum Orders 43 and 44 signed recently, also covers embryos and semen. Exempted are salt-treated hides, meat and bones that have passed ante- and post-mortem inspection, blood meal and flour, casings, gelatine, collagen, tallow, hooves, horns and pasteurized milk products.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the measure is a precaution to protect the livestock industry from LSD, a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle and carabaos.

The disease is spread mainly by blood-feeding insects such as flies, mosquitoes and ticks. While rarely fatal, it can cause fever, skin nodules, weight loss, reduced milk production, and trade disruptions.

Italy’s outbreak was reported on 18 July in Orani, Nuoro, Sardegna, and confirmed by its National Reference Centre for Exotic Animal Diseases. France’s case was detected on 23 June in Chambéry and verified by the French veterinary office.

The DA said the ban is consistent with standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and supported by existing Philippine regulations. It will remain in place until further notice, depending on containment and eradication efforts in the affected countries.

Officials said the move is not expected to significantly affect supply, as France and Italy are not major sources of cattle or buffalo imports for the Philippines.

Still, they stressed that preventive action is vital to sustaining livestock productivity and market stability.