September 14, 2004

Philippines Removes Poultry Ban On US, Japan

The Philippines has lifted an import ban on poultry and poultry products from four U.S. states and Japan. These regions have eradicated outbreaks of bird flu disease that emerged earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture said Monday.
 
Based on a report submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Office International des Epizooties, the bird flu virus in the U.S. states of Texas, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania has been completely wiped out, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said Monday.
 
"Based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Texas, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania is negligible," Yap said.
 
The U.S. is a major supplier of poultry products to the Philippines. However, none of country's poultry imports come from these four states.
 
Japan has also completely eradicated the virus, Yap said, adding the Philippines does not import any poultry products from the country anyway.
 
The Philippines has managed to remain free of the bird flu virus, which swept across several parts of Asia early this year. The countries infected with the virus include Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, South Korea, and Canada.
 
Although many countries have managed to eradicate the disease, the virus re-emerged last month in Malaysia, prompting the Philippines to issue an import ban.