Philippines bans poultry imports from Spain

The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on poultry and poultry products from Spain after the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed the occurrence of low pathogenic bird flu in a duck farm in Los Arcos, Navarra, Spain.

While Spain is not a traditional source of poultry products, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the temporary ban is imposed as a precautionary measure as travellers may bring in birds and its products from Spain.

The government has suspended the issuing of veterinary quarantine clearance to import poultry and birds from Spain, while the Department of Agriculture instructed its officials at all major ports to confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products from Spain.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has lifted the temporary ban on poultry and wild birds from the Czech Republic after the OIE declared it is bird flu free.