DA bans poultry from Italy, Canadian province

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

In separate memorandum orders signed by Agriculture Secretary William Dar, the DA temporarily banned the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, and semen from the two countries.

Based on reports submitted by the Canadian authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), there was an outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Western Nova Scotia, Canada.

Italian authorities also reported an outbreak of HPAI in Ronco all’Adige, Verona, Italy.

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

Dar said all shipments in transit/loaded/accepted unto port before the official communication of order to the Canadian and Italian authorities shall be allowed provided the products were slaughtered/produced before Jan.16, 2022, and Oct. 4, 2021, respectively.

The memorandum orders were issued on March 7 and were effective immediately.

The Philippines recently detected new outbreaks of the avian virus in eight areas in the country, based on its first follow up report to the OIE dated March 4.

Among these areas are the barangays of Saint Roch and Dagat-Dagatan in Bulacan; Santa Catalina and San Lorenzo in Pampanga; Calagbangan, San Agustin, San Isidro in Camarines Sur; and San Roque, Laguna.

Based on the OIE report, a total of 44,390 birds died due to the virus, while 38,808 birds were killed.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) director Reildrin Morales said the disease was first detected on Jan. 6, from a duck farm, in Barangay Barangka, Baliuag, Bulacan, through routine surveillance activities implemented by Department of Agriculture-BAI as part of its early warning system.

An outbreak was reported on Jan. 21 from two commercial quail farms, in barangay Dalayap, Candaba, Pampanga; and on Jan. 27 from a quail farm, in Barangay Mangga, Candaba, Pampanga.