A TEMPORARY ban was issued this week on the importation of domestic and wild birds and poultry products from the Netherlands, following an additional outbreak of bird flu, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced.
The DA said an additional H5 subtype avian influenza outbreak in Putten, Gelderland, was reported by the Netherlands’ chief veterinarian on Nov. 17. This was also confirmed by the Wageningen Bioveterinary Research.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Dec. 9 issued Memorandum Order (MO) 56, ordering the Bureau of Animal Industry to stop the processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for domestic and wild birds from the Netherlands.
The ban also covers derived products such as poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen for artificial insemination.
The memo likewise orders the Philippines’ veterinary and quarantine officers and inspectors to confiscate products from the Netherlands, except those already loaded, in transit or received at the ports before MO 56 was communicated to Dutch authorities. Heat-treated products are exempted from the ban.
MO 56 is effective immediately and remains in place until the Tiu Laurel declares otherwise in writing.
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