January 26, 2006

Philippines imposes stricter Chinese corn import rules

The Philippines has tightened regulations on corn and feed wheat imports from China and other countries affected by bird flu, said Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban. 

The stricter guidelines took effect on Jan 24. Under them, imports of corn or feed wheat from bird flu-infected areas in southern China would be banned, said Panganiban.

He stated that the government is doing this to protect their 180 billion-peso poultry industry. The Philippines has been unaffected by the bird flu virus that has caught on in several parts of Asia.

The new rules are being enforced at a time when Philippine firms are starting to buy Chinese corn and feed wheat to fill shortfalls in domestic corn.

Panganiban said corn or feed wheat imports from other parts of China are acceptable only if they were stored for a minimum of two weeks in warehouses to ensure that they were free of the bird flu virus.

Other countries affected by bird flu will face the same import guidelines, he added.