November 1, 2004

Philippines Lifts South Korean Poultry Ban

South Korea is now allowed to import birds and poultry products into the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Agriculture lifted the import ban after the country was cleared of the bird flu.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap removed the restriction on October 17.

The decision was based on a report by the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry which stated the last case of the disease was confirmed last March 20, and that the final serological testing revealed that the country is now free from the bird flu. The country submitted the report on September 21.

According to the Philippine Bureau of Animal Industry, its evaluation showed that the risk of contamination from importing birds and poultry products from South Korea is very low.

The DA had issued a ban on the importation of wild birds and poultry products from affected countries, after bird flu broke out in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

The Philippines and Singapore were the only countries not affected by the disease.

Yap earlier ordered that all imported wild birds and poultry products will be subject to rules and regulations of the DA, BAI and the National Meat Inspection Commission.