At A Glance
- Due to the outbreak of the avian influenza, the Department of Agriculture (DA) ordered a temporary importation ban on Japan poultry products.<br>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. ordered a temporary suspension of the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for the inward shipment of wild birds and other poultry products from Japan.<br>The Japanese agency reported cases of the H5N1 strain on their wild and domesticated birds last Nov. 24 in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) temporarily banned the importation of poultry products from Japan after the outbreak of avian influenza.
In a statement on Thursday, Jan. 18, the DA said it issued a memorandum to block Japanese poultry like eggs, day-old chicks, and other products until further notice.
Signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. the agency has suspended the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for the inward shipment of wild birds and other poultry products from Japan.
“Only wild birds, poultry, and poultry products imported from Japan that are already in transit, loaded, and accepted on or before Nov. 10 will be allowed entry to the Philippines,” the DA ordered.
The memorandum was done after the agriculture sector received an outbreak report from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries about the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
According to the Japanese agency, they found the H5N1 strain on their wild and domesticated birds last Nov. 24 in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture.
Because of this, poultry products that were shipped to the Philippines beyond Nov. 10 must either be returned, confiscated, or destroyed to avoid the outbreak from spreading.
“The import ban was necessary to protect the local poultry population from exposure to the H5N1 avian influenza strain,” Laurel said.
Yesterday, the DA announced a temporary importation ban on poultry products that were produced in California and Ohio, United States after a similar outbreak report.