-
The Philippines is temporarily banning the importation of domestic and wild birds from Argentina following a confirmed outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the South American country
-
Also barred are the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen for artificial insemination after the H5N1 bird flu subtype was detected in the northern region of Buenos Aires
-
The Bureau of Animal Industry has been directed to immediately suspend all applications and the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for poultry commodities from Argentina
The Philippines is temporarily banning the importation of domestic and wild birds from Argentina following a confirmed outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in the South American country.
Also barred are the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen for artificial insemination sourced from Argentina, after the H5N1 bird flu subtype was detected in the northern region of Buenos Aires on August 17, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) Memorandum Order (MO) No. 48 signed on September 5.
Argentine authorities reported the outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health on August 20.
“We are imposing the import ban because the H5N1 subtype poses a serious risk to both poultry and public health,” Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
“As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DA must protect not only food security but also public health,” he added.
MO No. 48 directs the Bureau of Animal Industry to immediately suspend all applications and the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for poultry commodities from Argentina.
DA noted that culling due to bird flu outbreaks has already cost the Philippine poultry industry hundreds of millions of pesos and thousands of jobs. As of September 10, after Camarines Sur was declared avian influenza-free, eight provinces across four regions remain affected by the virus.
DA said it continues to monitor global developments to safeguard both the local poultry industry and public health.
Last August, the Philippines also imposed a temporary ban on the importation of live cattle and buffalo, as well as their products and by-products, from France and Italy following confirmed outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease.
READ: PCC, ARTA seek to streamline livestock, poultry import rules
