THE Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered the ban on the importation of chicken and other poultry products from eight countries.
In separate memorandum orders, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said covered by the temporary ban are domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, and semen from Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Moldova, and Peru amid the outbreak of avian influenza.
Panganiban ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the affected commodities.
He also directed concerned authorities to ensure the confiscation of all shipments from the countries mentioned.
“Based on the official report submitted by the Director General of the Central Veterinary Administration of State Veterinary Administration, Prague, Czech Republic to the World Organisation for Animal health (WOAH) on Dec. 1, 2022, that there was an outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in Frahelž, Tabor, and Jihocesky affecting birds as confirmed by Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate,” Panganiban said in his Memorandum Order 82.
Panganiban added that official reports submitted by Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Moldova, and Peru to the WOAH also confirmed that outbreaks of HPAI virus have been detected in their domestic birds.
He said that the Chief Veterinary Office of the Veterinary Services of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine of Ireland also reported to the WOAH on Dec. 3, 2022, an outbreak of HPAI virus in Clones, Monaghan.
According to Panganiban, an outbreak of HPAI virus was also recorded in Lundby, Slagelse in Denmark, affecting birds.
He said in Poland, cases of HPAI virus were also reported in Falkowice, Namyslow affecting domestic birds.
“There is a need to prevent the entry of HPIA virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” Panganiban said.
