SINAG wants gov't to stop importing poultry products from bird flu infested countries

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), an umbrella group of farmers' groups, on Wednesday urged the government to stop importing poultry products from bird flu infested countries.

"'Yung mga kinunan natin na country, may mga sakit na, kaya gusto natin i-appeal kay Presidente at kay Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol 'yung mga dumadating," SINAG Chair Rosendo O. So said in a press conference in Quezon City.

However, SINAG has not yet issued an official letter of request to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Agriculture department.

The country has been importing poultry products from countries which have reported cases of the avian influenza despite the protocols of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) banning such products from entering the country, So noted.

Among the countries mentioned are Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.

"'Yung mga countries na pinapapasok natin, lahat mas matindi. Sa atin, H5 lang. 'Yung iba, iba pang strain. Mas matindi 'yung strain nila," he said, but did not elaborate.

According to the Piñol, the outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga is of the avian influenza type A subtype H5.

"Bakit pwede mag-import kung 'yung mga country na pinapapasok natin may sakit din, tapos hindi pwede magbenta sa Visayas at Mindanao?" So asked.

The Animal Disease Control Section of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said it is still determining which subtype of the virus was reported in Pampanga, with bird samples sent to Australia for further testing.

The DA ordered the BAI to cull  all farm birds within a 1-kilometer quarantine zone.

Piñol also banned all shipments of poultry and poultry products outside of Luzon. — VDS/KVD, GMA News