Philippines bans entry of poultry products from Kagawa, Japan due to bird flu

The Philippines has temporarily banned the importation of poultry products from Mitoyo City in Kagawa, Japan, due to the outbreak of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the area.

In a memorandum order dated November 18, Agriculture Secretary William Dar ordered the immediate ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen.

The order also suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the area in Japan, as well as the stoppage and confiscation of all shipments from the area.

To recall, the Philippines in July reactivated its bird flu task force after a confirmed case of avian influeza infection was reported at an egg-producing farm in Pampanga in July.

Thousands of chickens have since been culled to prevent the spread of the disease, which the government said was under control.

Prior to this, the Philippines temporarily banned the importation of poultry products from Poland, which earlier confirmed a case of the H5N8 HPAI. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News