Poultry import from Netherlands banned anew

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has again suspended the importation of poultry products from the Netherlands after Dutch authorities confirmed another outbreak of bird flu this month.

The outbreak occurred barely six months after the Philippines lifted a similar trade restriction on the Netherlands.

The DA yesterday said the temporary ban intends to prevent the entry of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus into the country, following reports of an outbreak in the northern part of the Netherlands.

“The suspension covers poultry meat, day-old chicks and eggs as well as semen used for artificial insemination of breeders,” said the DA.

Dutch veterinary authorities earlier reported to the World Organization for Animal Health that an outbreak of H5N1 occurred in the municipality of Aa en Hunze in Drenthe province on Oct. 6, infecting domestic birds.

The outbreak was formally reported two days later, according to the DA.

Acting on the recommendation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered an import freeze to protect the country’s poultry population and safeguard the local industry.

The DA directed the BAI to suspend the processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for poultry products originating from the Netherlands.