Manila, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned the entry of poultry products from Mexico because of the the reported occurence of bird flu.
Through Memorandum Order No. 14 dated July 3, the agriculture department imposed a temporary ban on inbound shipments of domestic and wild birds including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Mexico.
“Based on the official report submitted to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)… there was an outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Mexico,” according to the memo signed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
The DA has also suspended the issuance of veterinary clearance for such imports.
No date for the lifting of the ban has been stated in the order.
Mexican poultry products that make their way into the country while ban is in place will be confiscated.
It has been reported that the bird flue outbreak had killed 2.5 million chickens in farms in western Mexico.