DA bans poultry imports from Israel

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Haifa, Israel after a reported outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in turkey fattening farms in the area.

Through memorandum order 4, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala banned the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Haifa.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported that an outbreak of H5N1 HPAI virus was monitored in turkey fattening farms in Avi’el, Hadera, Haifa as of Jan. 14.

This was confirmed by the Kimron Vetrinary Institute, Avian Diseases Laboratory, after real-time polymerase chain reaction tests.

The OIE Animal Health Information Department said the H5 HPAI virus is among the notifiable OIE-listed terrestrial animal diseases, infections and infestations in force in 2014.

The Agriculture department has, therefore, suspended the processing, evaluation of application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance to import such products from said location.

With the exception of heat-treated products with slaughter or production date before Oct. 31, 2014, all other such shipments originating from the mentioned location would be seized to prevent entry into the country.

“Our poultry subsector grossed P189.7 billion last year, or 7.84 percent higher than in 2013. We cannot afford then to lose this growth foothold to avian diseases, that is why we are keen on monitoring entry of products that could threaten the health of our poultry industry,” Alcala said.

The domestic poultry sector is one of the strongest farm subsector in the country, having remained free from bird flu that affected neighboring Asian countries.

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

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