January 24, 2007

Philippines bans poultry from Japan due to bird flu
 

The Philippines has banned poultry and poultry products from Japan due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI.

The Philippines currently does not import poultry and poultry products from Japan.

However, the government has imposed the ban in view of the risk that travellers may bring in pet birds, poultry and poultry products from Japan, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said Wednesday.

This ban followed reports of an avian flu outbreak in Japan's Miyazaki prefecture earlier this month.

Yap added that the ban covered domestic and wild birds and their products.