The Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered a moratorium on avian influenza (AI) laboratory fees to help local raisers reduce their production costs during the pandemic and boost the government’s surveillance program.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar issued Administrative Order (AO) 31 issued October 12 that implemented a moratorium on the charging of laboratory fees for AI tests by the Animal Disease Diagnosis Reference Laboratory of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
The moratorium also covered the charges required by the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs).
Securing an AI test from the aforementioned laboratories is required for the local transport of animals and farm accreditation.
The moratorium would be implemented until the end of the year based on the AO.
BAI Director Ronnie D. Domingo said the moratorium would help livestock and poultry producers to reduce their production costs and facilitate easier transport of produce during this pandemic.
“We need to help our livestock and poultry producers who were significantly affected by the pandemic restrictions. Through the moratorium we help reduce production costs and facilitate shipment of poultry products,” Domingo told the BusinessMirror.
Furthermore, Domingo said providing free laboratory AI tests would “encourage the local producers to submit samples for AI surveillance.”
“Increased submissions, improve the overall scope and sensitivity of our avian influenza surveillance program. We need to sustain early detection and early response,” he said.
In the AO, Dar said “there is a need to maintain and improve the Al reporting system of the country by ensuring that laboratory tests are conducted to confirm field reports, or suspect cases.”
Dar also said in the AO that laboratory services and fees become burdensome to most clients since in some situations multiple tests are needed.
“In some instances, multiple tests need to be conducted to attain conclusive results that are not affordable for most clients,” he said.
“There is a need to harmonize the laboratory services and fees under the DA in order to have a uniform implementation of the AI Prevention and Control program,” he added.
Domingo said the BAI’s laboratories have sufficient capacity, in terms of test kits and funding, to cater to the possible influx of AI tests from the local industry.
The Philippines had three confirmed bird flu outbreaks this year in different areas: Jaen, Rizal; San Luis, Pampanga; and Taytay, Rizal. (Related story here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/09/22/da-bird-flu-outbreak-in-taytay-under-control/)
All the three bird flu outbreaks this year have been resolved and under control by the government due to immediate responses.