PHL lifts ban on Japanese poultry products

The Department of Agriculture has lifted the ban on imported Japanese poultry products, saying they are now safe from the avian influenza or bird flu virus. The DA lifted the ban through Memorandum Order No. 16 dated July 18 after it received confirmation from the Japanese government that poultry and poultry products there are now safe from the dreaded virus. Also, the Office Internationale des Epizooties' Terrestrial Animal Health Code had recently ruled that Japan is now free of highly pathogenic avian influenza. With the lifting of the ban, import permits can already be obtained for wild birds and poultry products from Japan, the DA said. The Philippines has issued a temporary ban on the importation of poultry products from countries where there are bird flu outbreaks as a precautionary measure and also to protect the local industry. At present, the Philippines is one among the few countries in Southeast Asia that have remained bird flu-free. The first bird flu outbreak in Japan was reported in Shimane prefecture last November. Since then, a total of 24 outbreaks were monitored in various poultry farms. Japan finished implementing all control measures against bird flu last March 24. - KBK, GMA News