Manila has imposed temporary import bans on 9 trade partners that have confirmed bird flu outbreaks to protect the domestic poultry industry from the transboundary animal disease.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued six separate memorandum orders (MO) that temporarily suspended the importation of poultry products from Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Moldova, Peru, and Ukraine.
Manila said these trade partners have confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as reported by their competent authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health.
āThere is a need to prevent the entry of the HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,ā Senior Agriculture Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban said in MOs 80 to 85.
With the temporary import ban in place, the government has suspended the processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for all poultry imports from the banned countries.
The imported items covered by the temporary import ban are domestic and wild birds including their poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, based on the documents.
āStoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above-stated commodities [with the exception of heat-treated products] into the country by all Veterinary Quarantine Officers/lnspectors at all major ports of entry,ā Panganiban said.
The Philippines usually imposes a temporary import ban on a trade partner with a confirmed transboundary animal disease outbreak that could threaten local livestock and poultry populations.