THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced yesterday the lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of horses from Australia.

The ban—prompted by the spread of equine influenza virus in Australia—was lifted upon the request of local race horse breeders. It was also endorsed by the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) and came a week after local races resumed because of a protest filed by local horse owners against then-Philracom chief Florencio Fianza.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the lifting of the ban was in accordance with the articles of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or Animal Health Organization, which states that horses could be imported from a country classified as “Equine Influenza free, zone or compartment.”

Equine Influenza virus is a highly contagious virus that is usually spread by direct contact between infected and susceptible horses, indirect contact with contaminated equipment, vehicles recently occupied by diseased horses and closed contact between contaminated horse handlers and healthy horses.  The virus, however, is harmless to humans.

Yap, however, said that the lifting of the ban on all Australian horse imports would be subject to “strict protocols” and that all import transactions “shall be in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the DA and the Bureau of Animal Industry.”

Yap imposed the import ban last September because of an official August 25, 2007, report by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry on the outbreak of the animal disease in Sydney.

In his memorandum, Yap also noted that “the Equine Influenza is present in our country and all horses in competition are required to be vaccinated every year.”

Last September, Yap slapped a ban on horse imports form Australia, citing the “need to protect the health of the local equine population.”

An outbreak of the disease occurred in the Philippines 10 years ago, affecting 95% of 1,800 horses, mostly in race tracks.

Horse racing was cancelled for several weeks as a result of the outbreak in November 1997 among unvaccinated horses, which apparently occurred shortly after horses were imported from North America. 

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THE Department of Agriculture (DA) announced yesterday the lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of horses from Australia.

OUR good Australian friend Peter Morrison wrote me about an American racing fan who had watched races in Manila lately and commented on how horses were kept waiting for so long at the back of the gate before the race is started.