The government slapped a temporary ban on poultry meat, day old chicks and eggs from Sweden, which confirmed the outbreak of bird flu in one of its municipalities.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. signed and issued Memorandum Order 12 last March 11. The memo authorized the implementation of the temporary ban.
Laurel noted that there was an outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI) in Ystad, Municipality of Skane County, Sweden last January 5 affecting domestic birds.
“Based on the official report submitted by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation of Sweden to the World Organisation for Animal Health on 19 January 2024, there was an outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 in Ystad, Municipality of Skane County Sweden last 05 January 2024 affecting birds [domestic] as confirmed by National Veterinary Institute of Sweden.”
The agriculture chief said the ban was put in place to protect the health of the domestic poultry population.
With the ban in place, Manila suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to poultry products from Sweden.
Laurel said all shipments coming from Sweden that are in transit, loaded, or accepted unto port before the official communication of memo to the Swedish authorities will be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered on or before December 22, 2023.
Manila warned that it will confiscate all shipments of poultry products from Sweden (except heat-treated products).
Laurel had also banned the entry of poultry products from the Czech Republic last March 8. He signed and issued MO 11 which ordered the temporary ban.
“Based on the official report submitted by the Director General, State Veterinary Administration, Ministry of Agriculture Czech Republic to the World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH] on 31 January 2024, there was an outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 [HPAI] in Chocen – Kosorin, Usti nad Orlici, Pardubicky of the Czech Republic on 30 January 2024 affecting birds [domestic], the memo read.
The Philippines does not consider Sweden and the Czech Republic as major sources of poultry products.