THE Department of Agriculture has banned the import of live cattle and cattle by-products from the United Kingdom in response to recent cases of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease.

To mitigate potential consumer risks and protect the local livestock industry, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 20 on May 30, imposing a temporary ban on the importation of live cattle, meat, meat products, bovine processed animal proteins and cattle semen originating from the UK following a recent case of the said animal disease.

"Mad cow disease can cause fatal nerve damage in cattle, and its entry or possible spread in the country could undermine the livestock industry and compromise food safety," the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement on Sunday.

Additionally, the DA noted that the disease could lead to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, a condition characterized by brain shrinkage and deterioration.

The temporary import ban was issued after a classical strain, C-type BSE, was detected in South Ayrshire, Scotland, on May 10. It was then confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health–World Animal Health Information System (WOAH-WAHIS) and the official letter received by the DA from the UK Chief Veterinary Officer.

Tiu Laurel emphasized the importance of precautionary measures to protect the domestic livestock industry, valued at P260 billion last year. He added the need to protect public health, as beef is an ingredient in both fast-food and high-end restaurants, as well as a key input in processed and canned foods.

From January to March this year, beef imports from the UK totaled 1.01 million kilograms (kg) or 2.87 percent of the total 35.3 million kg of beef imports for that period. Last year, UK beef imports reached 2.53 million kg, accounting for 1.74 percent of the total 145 million kg of beef imports.

To facilitate uninterrupted trade while addressing the potential spread of BSE, shipments originating from the UK that are currently in transit, loaded or accepted at port will be permitted, given that these products were slaughtered or produced on or before April 10, 2024, according to the DA.

The department also emphasized the implementation of heightened inspections for all incoming meat and meat by-products from cattle, including live animals and bovine processed animal proteins, at entry ports to ensure that only uncontaminated and safe commodities enter the country.