DA bans cattle, buffalo imports from France, Italy due to LSD outbreak

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of live cattle and buffalo from France and Italy due to confirmed outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).

The ban extends to milk and milk products, embryos, skin, and semen from Italy and France.

However, importations of skeletal muscle meat, casings, gelatine and collagen, tallow, hooves, and horns from Italy may continue subject to terms and conditions.

Milk and milk products, meal and flour from blood, meat other than skeletal muscle, or bones from bovines and water buffaloes from Italy are allowed provided that they have additional attestation.

Imports of bovine and water buffalo hides are also allowed provided that specific processing and attestation requirements are met.

Lumpy Skin Disease, spread by blood-feeding insects, causes fever and skin nodules in animals, leading to reduced milk production and weight loss.

An LSD outbreak was recorded in Chambéry, France on June 23, and in Orani, Nuoro, Sardegna, Italy on July 18.