Philippines Seeks FMD Free Status
PHILIPPINES - The government last week submitted its application to the World Organization for Animal Health (also known for its French acronym OIE) to remove most parts of Luzon island in the list of areas with foot and mouth disease (FMD), which would effectively facilitate domestic and international livestock trade.
2 February 2009
1 minute read
"We have already submitted documents last Jan. 28 for the initial evaluation of [OIE] animal health experts. After the evaluation in February, we will know if we have a chance [to be certified FMD-free]," Reildrin G. Morales, deputy head of the National FMD Task Force of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), said in an interview late last week.
"There would be an initial evaluation by [six to ten FMD] experts. If we pass, our application would be endorsed to the scientific commission [for a comprehensive evaluation]," he said in Filipino.
