The Philippines bans the importation of cattle and buffalo from Japan

The Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of live cattle and buffalo, as well as their products, from Japan following an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD). In a statement, the DA stressed the importance of the import ban to protect the local livestock industry from potential risks posed by LSD—a viral disease that primarily affects cattle and often leads to severe complications or death. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), LSD is a disease of cattles characterised by fever, nodules on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs, emaciation, enlarged lymph nodes, oedema of the skin, and even death. “The disease is of economic importance as it can cause a temporary reduction in milk production, temporary or permanent sterility in bulls, damage to hides and, occasionally, death,” the WOAH said. Import ban The import ban covers live animals and even products and by-products, including ...