BAGUIO CITY – A temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen was ordered by Sec. Emmanuel Piñol of the Department of Agriculture.
Entry of the said commodities from France, Germany, Japan, and Lubuskie, Poland are prohibited from entering the Philippines. Outbreaks of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus were reported by chief veterinary officers of the concerned countries. HPAI virus is highly contagious among birds and is extremely deadly to them.
Included in the memos set out by Sec. Piñol are : (1) immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance;(2) Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above stated commodities (with the exception of heat treated products) into the country by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports; (3) frozen poultry meat with slaughter/process date of 21 days prior to the HPAI outbreaks are allowed to enter the country subject to veterinary quarantine rules and regulations; and (4) importation of meat products of poultry is subject to the conditions provided in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.
The ban is set to protect the health of the local poultry population.
By AGG
