Philippines Bans Chinese Poultry
PHILIPPINES - The Philippine Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has ordered a temporary ban on imports of domestic and wild birds including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from China.The move follows a report of Director General Dr Zhang Zhongqui of the China Animal Disease Control Center, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture on 21 December last year on the bird flu status in China.
The Departement of Agriculture said the Official Report of Dr Zhongqui states that an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus was detected in the villages of Zhungzhuang, Jiaozhuang and Baoding in Heibei, China.
The Office Internationale Des Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health Information Department confirmed the presence of H5 and H7 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
In line with the ban, Secretary Alcala has ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of applications for imports and the issuing of import licences from China as well as the confiscation of shipments of poultry commodities, with the exception on heat treated products.
All Philippine Department of Agriculture Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports have been instructed to implement the order effectively.
Further Reading
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