MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered a temporary ban on the importation of animals and animal-derived products from Slovakia following confirmed cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in domestic cattle.

The DA issued the ban after Slovak veterinary authorities reported the FMD outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on March 2, 2025. The outbreak was detected in Dunajská Streda, Trnavsky.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move aims to prevent the spread of the FMD virus and protect the health of susceptible animals such as swine, cows, carabaos, and goats. The Philippines is currently classified by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) as an FMD-free country.

Tiu Laurel issued Memorandum Order No. 21, which prohibits the entry of live swine, bovines, water buffaloes, and related products, including semen, skeletal muscle meat, casings, tallow, hooves, and horns.

The order, however, allows the continued importation of certain products such as ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk and its derivatives, heat-treated meat in hermetically sealed containers, protein meal, gelatin, in vivo-derived bovine embryos, 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 ban to Slovak authorities may still be allowed entry, provided the products were slaughtered or produced on or before March 6 and test negative for FMD upon arrival.

The DA also suspended the processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for the affected products.