DA bans poultry from Spain

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned the importation of poultry from Spain due to reported cases of the avian virus.

In a memorandum order signed by Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the DA issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Spain.

Based on a report by Spanish authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), there was an outbreak of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Fuenterrebollo, province of Segovia, Castile and Leon, Spain.

Dar ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the above stated commodities.

He said all shipments in transit/loaded/accepted unto port before the official communication of order to the Spanish authorities shall be allowed provided the products were slaughtered/produced before Dec. 30, 2021.

Dar emphasized that the ban was issued to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population.

In a separate memorandum order, Dar also issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Croatia due to a reported outbreak of HPAI in Branjin Vrh, Baranja, Croatia.

“Croatia is not an accredited country to export any poultry related commodities to the Philippines but there is a need to prevent the entry of any HPAI susceptible products originating from Croatia that might enter the country through hand carried products from international vessels or any other possible routes,” Dar said.

In line with the ban, Dar ordered the stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above stated commodities into the country by all DA Veterinary Quarantine officers or inspectors at all major ports.

The DA also issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products including pork meat, pig skin, processed animal proteins and semen from Italy due to a reported case of African swine fever.

The DA based its decision on an official report submitted by Italian authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health on an outbreak of ASF in Ovada, Province of Alessandria, Northern Italy.