Philippines bans Czech poultry imports

Poultry products imports from the province of Jihocesky in southwest Czech Republic has been suspended in the Philippines.

In Memorandum Order No. 3 dated November 17, Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) undersecretary Bernie G. Fondevilla said the department issued the ban due to an outbreak of the non-lethal low pathogenic bird flu in Jihocesky.

The ban consists of domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the Czech province.

On November 5, Czech Republic reported a case of the low pathogenic strain on ducks to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). On November 13, the country culled 280 mallard ducks a farm in Ceske Budejovice in Jihocesky.

According to DA, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei remain as the only bird-flu free countries in Southeast Asia.