Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Arthur Yap issued a temporary ban on importing pigs from Taiwan after the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) had occurred on several pig units in the Taiwanese province of Chang-hua, according to Manila newspaper The Philippine Star.
The new DA order reportedly includes the immediate suspension of the processing and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance to import hoofed animals from Taiwan.
Yap said the ban was is in line with its continuing initiatives to obtain a formal declaration from OIE confirming that the Philippines is FMD-free.
"A global declaration of the country's FMD-free status will help Filipino hog producers penetrate the export market," said Yap to the Philippine Star.
