August 23, 2004

Philippines Bans Poultry Products From Malaysia Due To Bird Flu

The Philippines has issued an import ban on chicken and other poultry products from Malaysia, which has confirmed an outbreak of avian flu disease, the Department of Agriculture said Friday.
 
The ban will be applied to chicken and poultry products, as well as pet and wild birds, even though the Philippines doesn't import any of these products from Malaysia, the department said in a statement.
 
Bureau of Animal Industry director Jose Molina said the ban is a precautionary measure to deter the possible introduction of the disease into the country.
 
Similar import restrictions were issued early this year on poultry imports from bird-flu infected countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and the U.S.
 
The Philippines has received requests from the U.S. and Taiwan to lift the ban, and the agriculture department is studying these, Molina added.
 
The avian flu virus is believed to be able to infect humans.