Philippines declared as foot-and-mouth disease-free zone

MANILA – An international organization has declared the Philippines as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free zone, a Malacañang official said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the World Organization for Animal Health also known as Office International des Epizooties (OIE) has approved the Philippines as an FMD-free zone.

Lacierda showed a certificate from the OIE to the media in a press briefing.

He noted that the said certification allows the local meat producers to export their products abroad.

He added that it also lures interest from foreign companies to invest in the country.

“If you remember when the President was in Thailand, there was a particular group called the Charoen Pokthand or the CP group, which mentioned that they were interested in investing here in the Philippines because we are FMD-free,” he said.

“This will be a big advantage for us, for our hog raisers and our meat products will be recognized abroad as FMD-free,” he added.

The certification issued last May 26 was signed by the group’s president Carlos Correa Messuti and director general Bernard Vallat.

Based in Paris, France, OIE is an inter-governmental organization created to fight animal diseases at a global level through an international agreement signed on January 25th 1924. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)