January 27, 2004

Philippines To Ban Indonesian Poultry

 The Philippines is expected to soon issue an import ban on all poultry products from Indonesia, which confirmed at the weekend an outbreak of the bird flu sweeping across Asia.

Ronel Abila, the Bureau of Animal Industry's veterinary quarantine chief, said a recommendation to ban Indonesian poultry products has already been forwarded to Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo for approval.

The BAI has already proposed import bans on poultry products from Taiwan and Thailand, Abila said.

The Philippines doesn't actually import poultry from any countries in Asia, but is imposing the bans as a precaution.

It has already imposed import bans on poultry products from South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

At least eight people have died from bird flu in Asia - six in Vietnam and two in Thailand.