The Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended indefinitely its moratorium on laboratory fees for avian influenza (AI) tests for certain transactions to encourage local poultry producers to secure farm certification amid bird flu threats in the country.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations and Chief-of-Staff Leocadio S. Sebastian issued DA Administrative Order (AO) No. 21 series of 2022 that authorized the extension of moratorium on the charging of laboratory fees for AI tests.
The extension of the moratorium covers AI tests for local transport by the Animal Disease Diagnosis and Reference Laboratory (ADDRL) of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RADDLs).
Furthermore, the AO stipulated that the extension of the moratorium is only applicable to the following transactions: new application for farm certification; renewal of farm certification; and local transport of live poultry, poultry products and by-products as endorsed by provincial and city veterinary offices of the independent cities and veterinary offices in NCR.
The last moratorium on AI lab test fees by ADDRL and RADDLs expired last June 30.
“The previous moratorium was issued to support and give ample time to all clients to register their poultry facilities and other poultry-related facilities while strengthening AI surveillance and reporting,” the AO read.
“The DA continually supports and encourages our local poultry industry stakeholders to comply with the government requirements while securing food safety and security, in compliance to the Republic Act [RA] 8485 as amended by RA 10631, R A 10631 or the Food Safety Act of 2013, other DA issuances related to the previously mentioned laws,” it added.
The DA noted that it has allowed the movement of poultry-related commodities subject to “additional safety measures such as but not limited to AI testing” to “ensure supply chain continuity and local food sufficiency,” while preventing further spread of AI Type A subtypes H5 and H7.
“This Order shall take effect upon signing shall still be in effect until revoked in writing,” the document dated July 19 read.
The Philippines culled nearly 300,000 birds, mostly chicken layers, to prevent the spread of AI in the country, BAI data as of June 24 showed.
A total of 286,934 birds were culled by the government, of which 66.38 percent or about 190,468 were chicken layers, according to BAI data.
BAI data showed that the government also culled 47,667 ducks, 27,574 quails, 750 native chickens and 575 other birds. The attached agency of the Department of Agriculture said a certain farm owner conducted a pre-emptive culling of 19,900 broiler breeders.
The agency said the government has indemnified affected poultry farmers who received a total of P24.831 million. Based on its latest tally, BAI said bird flu cases in the country were confirmed in 95 barangays in 53 municipalities across 14 provinces in eight regions nationwide.
The BAI said 133,160 birds died due to the disease, bringing the total death count (mortalities and culled) to 420,094 birds.
Chicken layer accounted for the bulk of the recorded mortalities as of June 24 at 64,772 followed by quail at 55,616.
As of June 24, there were 10 ongoing bird flu cases out of the 142 confirmed cases nationwide. The government has resolved 132 bird flu cases since the resurgence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in February.