The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of commodities derived from foot and mouth disease (FMD)-susceptible animals, including their products and byproducts, from Slovakia. This comes in response to an official report confirming FMD outbreaks in Slovakia’s Dunajska Streda region in late March.
The ban aims to protect the Philippines’ FMD-free status and prevent the virus from entering the country. The decision halts the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for high-risk products from Slovakia, such as skeletal muscle meat, tallow, hooves, and live animals, including swine, bovines, and water buffaloes.
Certain products, like heat-treated meat in sealed containers and specific leather goods, will still be allowed. However, products slaughtered before 6 March 2025, and proven FMD-free upon entry may be exempt from the ban.
While the Philippines did not import meat from Slovakia in 2024, the DA’s vigilance in monitoring local markets highlights the importance of safeguarding consumer health. Retail beef prices in the Philippines currently range from P320 to P510 per kilogram, showing that this policy may have indirect implications on prices and availability if the ban expands.
This reflects the DA’s proactive stance in ensuring the health of local livestock populations and the country’s trade status with the global agricultural community.
