DA bans England poultry on bird flu outbreak

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned the importation of wild birds and poultry products from England because of an outbreak of bird flu.

Covered by the ban is the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

The DA said it received confirmation from the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)of an outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in Goosnargh, Lancashire, England.

The outbreak of HPAI serotype H7N7 affected free range and house laying hens in Goosnargh.

This was reported to the OIE by England’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

H5 and N7 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus are among the notifiable OIE-listed terrestrial animal diseases. 

As such, the processing, evaluation of application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance for the above-mentioned commodities from said location have been suspended. 

With the exemption of heat-treated products, all shipments of poultry and poultry products from Lancashire, England would be stopped and confiscated in Philippine ports. 

The OIE is an inter-governmental organization that informs governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases. 

It also coordinates the conduct of studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and of harmonizing regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products. 

The domestic poultry sector is among the strongest farm subsectors in the country, having remained free from avian influenza that has affected neighboring Asian countries.