DA lifts ban on poultry movement from 7-km avian influenza control zone

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the ban on the movement of poultry and poultry-related products in and out of the seven-kilometer avian influenza control zone, subject to several conditions.

In a DA Memorandum Circular dated August 31, 2017 and released to reporters on Sunday, September 3, the DA said it now allows the movement of broilers and hatching eggs from the control zone.

"[M]ovement of broilers and hatching eggs from the 7-km Avian Influenza Control Zone to other parts of the country is hereby lifted," it read.

This comes after a risk assessment in the control zone, and upon recommendation of the Avian Influenza Technical Working Group.

It noted, however, that the movement is only allowed under four conditions:

• implementation of "Test and Slaughter";
• slaughters shall only be in accredited plants;
• hatching eggs must be sourced from safe farms; and
• embryonated eggs (balut) should come from duck farms negative for avian influenza.

"Farms that are due for harvest shall be inspected by the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) for biosecurity and flock health assessment," the circular read.

"The qualifying criteria on unexplained mortality that doubles in three successive days as HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) suspect farm shall be ruled out," it added.

Laboratory testing will also be done to ensure that the birds are free of HPAI.

In terms of hatching eggs, the DA said the transportation may only be done by a disinfected and sealed chick van, and fumigation will need to be done at the source, and upon arrival at the hatchery.

To recall, the DA on August 22 lifted the ban on shipments of poultry and poultry-related products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao, on the recommendation of a biosecurity team.

The ban was ordered by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" F. Piñol on August 13, after the announcement of an outbreak of the avian influenza H5N6 in a quail farm in Pampanga.

Piñol on August 18 confirmed that two farms in Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija were also affected by the avian influenza.

The DA has since ordered a 7-kilometer control area, and a 1-kilometer isolation area where all fowls in the area have already been culled. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News