April 18, 2012

Filipino authorities have temporarily barred the importation of poultry and its by-products from the Netherlands, due to a reported outbreak of avian flu in the country.

In Memorandum Order No. 09, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala ordered the temporary ban on the entry of domestic and wild birds-including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen-from Limburg Netherlands to protect the Philippines' local poultry population.

Based on the report of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the outbreak was discovered in a turkey farm in Keplen-Oler in Limburg, The Netherlands. The low pathogenic avian influenza virus was classified as serotype H5N2.

In line with the ban, Alcala ordered the immediate suspension of the processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance on the importation of poultry products from the country.

The Agriculture chief also mandated the DA's veterinary quarantine officers or inspectors in all major ports to halt and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products from the Netherlands.