Philippines Lifts Import Ban on German Beef After FMD-Free Declaration

MANILA – The Philippines has officially lifted its ban on beef and other animal products from Germany after the European nation was declared free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 29, confirming Germany’s status as FMD-free based on standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). He stated that the risk of contamination from importing German livestock products is now “negligible.”

Germany provided all necessary veterinary certifications and technical documents to support the lifting of the ban, which had been imposed in February 2025 after FMD was detected in domestic buffaloes in Brandenburg.

The DA stressed that FMD, though rarely affecting humans, can devastate livestock populations, especially young animals, and severely impact the economy.

In 2024, the Philippines imported over 3,100 metric tons of beef from Germany, a modest share of the country’s total imports. Germany had also been a major pork exporter to the Philippines before a separate ban due to African Swine Fever (ASF) in 2020.

The DA said the resumption of imports could help reestablish broader agricultural trade between both countries.