DA bans US poultry imports

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has banned the importation of chicken and poultry products from Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania amid the outbreak of bird flu in the United States.

In his Memorandum Order 14, Tiu Laurel said that based on the report submitted by the Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as of Feb. 20 there were several outbreaks of H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza in Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania, affecting domestic birds as confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Tiu Laurel said the prohibition covered domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from the three states.

Meanwhile, Tiu Laurel has lifted the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products from France.

‘No need for IRR’

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform expressed frustration over what she described as the poor implementation of laws, blaming the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for diluting legislative intent.

At Wednesday's Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Villar questioned why Republic Act 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, has not been implemented amid the continuing entry of smuggled agricultural products and the struggles of farmers, livestock raisers and fisherfolk.

She pointed out that in some cases, the IRR changes the spirit of the law, undermining its original purpose.

“That’s why I made it clear in the law that there is no need for an IRR. The law itself serves as the IRR,” she said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe