DA temporarily bans poultry products from Japan, Hungary, California over bird flu threat

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry products from Japan, Hungary, and California due to the threat of bird flu, according to a report on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Wednesday.

Dated November 23, DA Memorandum Orders (MO) No. 69, 70, and 71 were signed by Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.

With the Memorandum Orders, importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, from these areas are temporarily prohibited.

The DA also suspended immediately the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the above stated commodities.

However shipments from Japan and Hungary that are already in transit or have been loaded or accepted in ports before notice of the MO was given to Japanese and Hungarian authorities shall be allowed entry as long as the products were slaughtered or produced on or before October 12, 2022, the DA said.

Shipments coming from California that are in transit or have been loaded or accepted in ports before the official communication of the MO to US authorities shall also be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered or produced on or before August 4.

Products which do not meet the conditions in the MO and were imported or brought to the Philippines shall be confiscated and destroyed, or returned to the country of origin, or shipped to a third country, in accordance with DA Administrative Order 9 Section 10 Section VII. D, the DA said.

Meanwhile, the United Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA) said the Philippines would not be affected by the temporary ban because it has enough supply of chicken until Christmas. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News