October 14, 2008
Philippines resumes poultry imports from Czech Republic, Denmark and Arkansas
Secretary Arthur Yap of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued separate directives lifting the temporary ban on all imports of domestic and wild birds along with poultry and its products from the Czech Republic, Denmark and the American state of Arkansas, but has barred similar products from Idaho from entering the country based on official reports on the status of the absence or presence of the avian influenza (AI) virus in these areas.
Yap ordered the ban on the entry of "domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks and semen" from Denmark after the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or Animal Health Organization confirmed that the country has regained its "notifiable avian influenza free status" according to the requirements of the OIE Animal Health Code.
No further AI outbreaks was also reported in Denmark since April this year after the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration implemented the necessary measures in accordance with European Union standards.
The state of Arkansas has also reported the successful eradication of the bird flu in Washington county, where the virus was first detected last June.
In the Czech Republic, 90 days have already elapsed without any evidence of the highly pathogenic AI since the cleaning and disinfection of the infected premises took place.
The Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE sets a three-month period before a country can regain its bird flu-free status after conducting a stamping-out campaign to eradicate birds infected with the AI virus.
Yap said an evaluation done by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from the Czech Republic, Arkansas and Denmark were "negligible."
However, Yap slapped a temporary ban on imports of domestic and wild birds and their products from Idaho after a report submitted to the OIE had showed an occurrence of the low pathogenic AI in the American state.
The AI virus was detected in a farm in Payette county affecting game birds that are bred and used for hunting.
Yap directed quarantine officers and inspectors of the Department at all major airports and seaports to stop and confiscate all shipments of live birds, poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Idaho.