The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its import ban on animal products from Germany, after the European country was officially declared free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)—a highly contagious virus that affects livestock such as cows, pigs, goats, and sheep.
The temporary ban was imposed in February, following reports of FMD cases among domestic buffaloes in Hoppegarten, a town in the Brandenburg region of Germany, according to a DA news release. The outbreak had been formally reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in January.
While FMD rarely affects humans, it spreads quickly among cloven-hoofed animals and can be deadly for young livestock. An outbreak can cause serious losses in the agriculture sector due to animal deaths, trade restrictions, and culling measures.
In a new directive, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Germany is now recognized as FMD-free under international animal health standards.
The risk of contamination from importing FMD-susceptible animals, their products, and by-products is negligible, Tiu Laurel said in Memorandum Order 29.
The DA said it lifted the ban after German authorities submitted complete technical documents and official certifications proving the country’s clean bill of health.
In 2024, the Philippines imported 3,177.5 metric tons of beef from Germany, representing around 0.5% of total beef imports. Germany had also been a major pork supplier before a separate ban was imposed in 2020 due to African Swine Fever (ASF).
The move is expected to help restore broader livestock trade between the Philippines and Germany.
