April 29, 2013

Philippines bans Chinese poultry imports

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products originating from China due to the confirmation that an avian flu variant was found in those products.

 
The DA issued Memorandum Order (MO) No. 14 s. 2013 on April 17, implementing the temporary ban of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from China.

The Ministry of Health in China confirmed that the H7N9 Avian Influenza has been found present in poultry products in Shanghai and neighboring regions on the Eastern seaboard.

DA secretary Proceso J. Alcala ordered the ban to protect the health of the local poultry population in the country.

In addition to the ban, Alcala ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation, and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearances or International Veterinary Certificate Import Permits for applications to import poultry products.

The confiscation and stoppage of shipments of the said poultry products from China was similarly ordered by the DA Secretary.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Rubino O. Cresencio said in a text message that the ban will be lifted only after the country is cleared by the OIE or World Organization for Animal Health.

The Department similarly implemented a ban in March on poultry products from Italy and the Netherlands due to similar reasons.