Philippines bans birds, poultry products from 3 countries

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Netherlands, Russia and Saudi Arabia following an outbreak of the avian virus.

The ban covers the importation of poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from the three countries.

Based on the report submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health, there was an outbreak of H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in Biddinghuizen in Flevoland in Netherlands.

There was an outbreak of H5N8 HPAI virus in Riyadh, Al Kharj, and Al Mazahmyia in Saudi Arabia. There was also an outbreak of H5N2 HPAI virus in Kostromskoy, Russia.

DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol issued an immediate suspension of the processing and evaluation of applications and the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance.

Piñol said all shipments of the commodities (with the exception of heat treated products) into the Philippines will be confiscated by all DA veterinary quarantine officers at all major ports.

Frozen poultry meat with slaughter and process date of 21 days prior to the HPAI outbreaks are allowed to enter the country.

DA imposed the ban to prevent the entry of HPAI virus and to protect the health of the public and the local poultry population.

Meanwhile, the DA has lifted the temporary ban on poultry imports from Belgium after the area has been cleared of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The agency received confirmation from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that the country is now free from bird flu.

Based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products is “negligible.”

All import transactions will be allowed according to the existing rules and regulations of the DA, BAI and the National Meat Inspection Service.

The OIE is an inter-governmental organization that informs governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases.

It also conducts studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and the harmonization of regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products.