November 30, 2012

Philippines lifts import ban on poultry from Taiwan

The Philippines has ceased a ban on poultry imports from Taiwan after confirmations that the country is safe from the bird flu virus.

The ban has been lifted on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products - including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen, from Taiwan.

The Philippines had imposed the ban in April this year after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the strain H5N2 was identified in Tainan, Taiwan, in February. The outbreak was notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in March 2012.

The lifting of the ban comes after it was confirmed that disinfection of affected premises was completed in May 2012, and that no further cases were reported in Taiwan.