DA lifts ban on imported meat products from UK

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on all imports of meat, animals and its byproducts from the United Kingdom.

The move is based on the restoration last month of the UK’s “FMD-free status without vaccination.” FMD stands for foot and mouth disease

An evaluation by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that the risk of contamination from importing FMD-susceptible animals and their products from the UK is negligible, according to a memorandum issued by Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras in his capacity as DA officer-in-charge.

A final report submitted by the UK ’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to the Office International des Epizooties or the Animal Health Organization last month showed that the “FMD-free status without vaccination” of that country has been restored.  

In August last year, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap imposed a temporary  ban on animal and meat imports from the UK after the UK’s DEFRA reported to the OIE the outbreak of FMD in a farm at the Normandy district in Surrey province.

Paras was the DA OIC last week in the absence of Yap, who was then heading a 10-day, two-country Philippine trade mission to the United Arab Emirates and the United States.