DA lifts temporary ban on US poultry imports

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on poultry imports from several states in the US after these areas have been cleared of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The department is now allowing the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from La Moure and Dickey County in North Dakota; Whitley Country, Indiana; Missouri and Wisconsin.

Covered by the lifting of the importation ban are poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen.

In a recently issued order, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the department received confirmation from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that the above-mentioned areas are now free from bird flu.

This, in turn, was reported to the OIE by the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Based on the evaluation of `the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from such locations is “negligible.”

All import transactions of the above mentioned products will be allowed according to the existing rules and regulations of the DA, BAI, and the National Meat Inspection Service.

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.