DA bans poultry imports from Australia
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily suspended the importation of poultry and other poultry products from Australia because of the reported outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) there. In Memorandum Order 33, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala ordered the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds—including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen—originating form New South Wales to protect the Philippines’ local poultry population, as well as human health. Based on the report of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), the outbreak was discovered in free-range laying hens in New South Wales. The high pathogenic avian influenza virus was classified as serotype H5 and H7. Avian influenza in its notifiable form can be divided into two categories—the high and low pathogenecity. In line with the ban, Alcala ordered the immediate suspension of the processing and evaluation of the application and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance on the importation of poultry products from the territory. The official also mandated the Department of Agriculture's veterinary quarantine officers in all major ports to halt and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products—with the exception of heat-treated products—from New South Wales. — KBK, GMA News