The Department of Agriculture (DA) imposed a ban on the entry of poultry products from Nova Scotia, Canada and from the entire Italy.
The decision was made in two separate orders signed on March 7, based on reports submitted by the chief veterinary officers of the United Kingdom and Japan to the World Organization for Animal Health that the said areas registered an outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Memorandum Orders 23 and 24 series of 2022 said the ban will take effect on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen.
Processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance of said products from the said regions are immediately suspended.
All incoming poultry shipments from Nova Scotia with SPS clearance issued before the order was officially communicated will be allowed entry provided the products were slaughtered or produced before Jan. 16, 2022.
The DA said while Italy is not an accredited exporter of poultry meat to the Philippines, there is a need to explicitly ban to prevent the entry of poultry related commodities from this country through hand carried products from international vessels or other e routes.
According to data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, the country imported a total of 404.7 million kilograms (kg) of poultry meat last year.
From the said number, Canada supplied a total of 29.8 million kg equivalent to 7 percent of the total poultry meat imports. – Jed Macapagal
