Manila has temporarily suspended the importation of poultry products from Belgium anew after the European country confirmed outbreaks of bird flu.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Order (MO) 14 series of 2023 that imposed the temporary import ban on domestic and wild birds and their products such as poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Belgium.
The DA explained that Belgium, in an official report to the World Organisation for Animal Health, confirmed an outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wervik, West-Vlaanderen last January 26 that affected domestic birds. The outbreak in Belgium was verified by the country’s national laboratory, Sciensano.
“There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” MO 14 read.
Under the order, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) was instructed to immediately suspend the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for Belgian poultry products.
“All shipments coming from Belgium that are in transit/loaded/accepted unto port before the official communication of this order to the Belgian authorities shall be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered/produced on or before January 10, 2023,” the document read.
The MO 14 took effect immediately and shall remain enforced by government authorities unless revoked in writing by concerned government officials.
The Philippines imported 10.675 million kilograms of chicken meat products from Belgium last year, based on BAI data.
The Philippines slaps a temporary import ban on its trade partners that have confirmed animal disease outbreaks, particularly transboundary animal diseases, to protect domestic animal populations and ensure human health safety.
