DA set to ban chicken imports from Vietnam, SKorea, Japan

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon issue a ban on the entry of chicken and other bird species from Vietnam, South Korea and Japan to prevent an outbreak of the highly contagious bird flu or avian influenza.

The memorandum order which is expected to be signed shortly by Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., comes in the wake of reports that a bird flu outbreak has occured in Japan and the two other countries.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Jose Molina said his agency recommended the ban to Lorenzo.

"We have already confirmed the outbreak and so it is necessary to issue a temporary ban," Molina said, adding that BAI’s quarantine inspectors and officials in all of the country’s sea and airports wll be strictly monitoring shipments to ensure that the ban is not violated.

Molina added that the Philippines does not import chicken from Japan but the ban will be enforced just the same to include other bird species that could possibly find their way into the local market.

In 2003, the Philippines prohibited chicken imports from the Netherlands and China to prevent the entry of the avian flue virus that could contaminate the local poultry industry.

Also last year, the DA and the Department of Health monitored the entry of these products from China and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong health authorities ordered in 1997 the mass slaughter of chicken after its poultry sector was hit by the avian flu virus that led to the death of at least 18 people.

The avian flu virus also affects quails and ducks.

Avian flu virus when transmitted to humans, attacks the respiratory tract. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, cough, cold and sore throat.