Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala issued a memorandum order for a temporary ban on the importation of animals, their products and by products originating from Paraguay.
Report submitted to the Office of International des Epizooties states that there was an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Paraguay which was confirmed at a cattle farm in San Pedro Paraguay last January 2, 2012.
Alcala ordered the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to immediately suspend the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance to import the above-stated commodities from Paraguay.
He also ordered the Veterinary Quarantine officers to inspect all ports, stop, and confiscate all shipments of FMD-susceptible animals, their products and by-products into the country originating from Paraguay.
Region 11 Livestock Division Chief Rafael Mercado said this Memorandum order will help the preservation of Mindanao being FMD-free without vaccination since May, 2000 and the whole country since June last year.
He added that the memo was also sent to all veterinary offices in the provinces urging them to be vigilant and do the outright inspection of suspiscious meat supplies in their areas.
Mercado also assured that even if all meat products from Paraguay are banned, it will not affect the meat supply in the country.
“We have enough supply of meat products in the country even without the supply from Paraguay,” Mercado said.
Alcala also ordered a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. This is due to an official report that there was an outbreak of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenz (LPAI) which was detected on the index duck meat grower farm in this place during surveillance on a healthy flock.
All the shipments of poultry and poultry products (with the exception of heat treated products originating from this country) will be stopped. [EGDeligero/Aggie Media Service]
