AGRICULTURE and veterinary officers in Region 1 and Pangasinan have stepped up their public awareness campaign targeting local government units, livestock traders and consumers as they sought to get the World Animal Health Organization recognize mainland Luzon as Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free by 2008.

A motorcade wound up at the Urdaneta City Livestock Market recently to entice livestock traders to support the campaign by having their vehicles accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry, acquiring a Livestock Handler’s License and securing pertinent shipment documents (veterinary health certificate and shipping permit) prior to transport of their livestock.

Animal Movement Management has been a critical tool of BAI in the prevention of animal diseases such as FMD.

During a mall tour at CSI City Mall in Lucao, Dagupan City later, Coordinator for Region 1 Dr. Jose Eduardo David reminded consumers at the mall to always look for the meat inspection certificate (MIC) issued by the National Meat Inspection Service or by the town or city government and also verify the markings in the meat if these are authentic.

The agriculture and animal industry officials reminded local consumers of their right to safe and clean meat.