The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has given its go signal to Spanish firm Iberica de Tecnologia Avicola, S.A.U (Ibertec) to export day-old chicks and hatching eggs to the Philippines.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala issued Administrative Circular (AC) 5, Series of 2016, allowing Ibertec from Valladolid, Spain, to export poultry products to the country.
Alcala gave his approval after the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) conducted an ocular inspection of Ibertec’s farm in Valladolid to evaluate its biosecurity, animal health program, animal disease-diagnostic capacity, as well as its husbandry practices.
“Based on the inspection, the BAI found no imminent risk to source day-old chicks and hatchings for export to the Philippines based on the current highly pathogenic avian influenza virus-free status of Spain,” the circular read.
Ibertec, according to the circular, has also complied with the standards provided in the Office International des Epizooties Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2015.
With the AC in place, day-old chicks and hatching eggs are not allowed to enter the Philippines, but it is still subject to existing veterinary quarantine rules and regulations in the country.
The DA said the approval of the importation of poultry products from Ibertec is pursuant to DA Administrative Order 9, Series of 2010, which provides the guidelines on the importation of agricultural and fishery products, farm inputs, veterinary drugs and biological products into the country.
