NMIS assures supply of poultry products sufficient despite ban
PHILIPPINES - Even though the Philippines remains to be free from the avian influenza or bird flu, the government continues to be vigilant in taking precautions against the entry of the virus in the country’s poultry farms.
5 March 2007
2 minute read
Bird flu is a viral disease that affects avian species like turkey, chicken and even migratory birds.
In the first quarter of this year, the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) banned the importation of live poultry and poultry products — including dressed chicken, eggs and processed chicken meat, among other products — from Japan and the United Kingdom following reports that certain poultry farms in the two countries have been infected.
NMIS lifted the ban of imported live poultry and poultry products from Japan in September 2006, and the United Kingdom (UK) in August of the same year. But it imposed the prohibition again on Japan poultry products on Jan. 16 and those from UK last Feb. 5.
These measures bring to 45 the number of countries whose poultry products are banned from entering the Philippines. Many of the banned imports are from European countries as well as those from India, Egypt, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong.
“Only the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are not affected with the bird flu,” said NMIS 7 Director Romeo Capa.
Source: SUNSTAR.com
