Philippines bans Czech poultry imports over bird flu

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from the Czech Republic following an outbreak of an avian virus.

In a memorandum order issued by the Office of the Secretary, the DA said banned for import are domestic and wild birds including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen from Czech Republic.

Based on reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health, there was an outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in Dlouhalhota, Tabor, Jihocesky that affected birds.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar immediately suspended the processing and evaluation of application, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance for the commodities.

Shipments of these commodities will be stopped and confiscated by DA veterinary quarantine officers at all major ports of entry in the Philippines, Dar said.

The order was issued to prevent the entry of the HPAI virus and protect the health of the public and the local poultry population.

Under the Revised Administrative Code, the DA is authorized to issue a general order preventing the entry of animals, animal effects, parts or products from any country with dangerous communicable animal disease.