PHL bans all poultry products from China, citing H5N2 breakout in Heibei

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday ordered a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from the People's Republic of China, citing an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that was discovered in Heibei province. 

 

An outbreak of HPAI in the village of Zhungzhuang, Jiaozhuang, Baoding City in Heibei, the China Animal Disease Control Center reported to the Office Internationale Epizootie (OIE) last December.   

 

The HPAI subtype H5N2 broke out and was detected in bird species. The outbreak was confirmed through tests test conducted by Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Philippine government noted.

 

The Department of Agriculture is banning poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, and semen, saying the ban on wild and domesticated birds from China is to protect the Philippine public, the department said in an e-mailed statement.

 

The department said processing and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance for the importation of those products from China have been suspended. 

 

It ordered veterinary inspectors in all major ports to stop all shipments of poultry meat and similar products from China. 

 

In April 2013, the Agriculture Department also ordered a temporary ban against poultry and poultry products from China with the outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Shanghai. 

 

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, citing the discovery of 

H7N9 avian influenza in poultry in Shanghai and neighboring regions on the Eastern seaboard. – VS, GMA News