THE Philippines has temporarily banned the importation of poultry products from Bulgaria due to reported outbreaks of avian influenza in the country.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including their products, originating from Bulgaria, after Damyan Iliev, a Bulgarian agriculture official, reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) several outbreaks of avian influenza.
The outbreaks of H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus were found in two provinces of Bulgaria. Birds in these areas were affected by the outbreaks, as confirmed by OIE reference laboratory for avian influenza and Newcastle disease.
With this, Piñol found it necessary to prevent the entry of poultry products from Bulgaria so as to spare the Philippines of possible HPAI virus. He added this is to protect the health of the local poultry population.
Under Memorandum Order 37, Piñol banned the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, from Bulgaria. He also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance to the listed commodities.
The memorandum mandated the stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of Bulgarian poultry products into the country to be conducted by all agriculture veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors at all major ports.