January 22, 2004

Philippines To Ban Chicken Imports From Taiwan On Bird Flu

The Philippines is likely to impose an import ban on farm-raised and wild birds, as well as poultry products from Taiwan, which has reported an outbreak of avian flu along with its neighboring countries, a senior government official said Wednesday.

Jose Molina, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry, said he has already recommended to Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo that a ban be issued immediately to prevent the possible entry into the Philippines of the avian flu.

"There is now practically a pandemic in the entire Southeast Asian region, so we would like to take the necessary precautionary measures," Molina told Dow Jones Newswires.

The Philippines has already imposed an import ban on poultry products from South Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

According to Asian newspaper reports, there is also an outbreak of avian flu in Thailand, although Thai government officials have denied this, saying tests were still continuing.

As in the case of South Korea, Japan and Vietnam, the Philippines doesn't import any poultry products from Taiwan. However, Molina said the ban is necessary to prevent the entry of infected pet birds that might undermine the health of the local poultry population.

The bird flu outbreak has killed five people and millions of chickens across Asia.