Import ban on domestic, wild birds from Belgium, France lifted

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday said it has lifted the temporary import ban on domestic and wild birds from Belgium and France.

The ban was earlier imposed to prevent the outbreak of bird flu in the country.

DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has ordered the lifting of the import ban covering products like poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

Tiu Laurel issued the order on April 11 after the DA received reports that there were no additional bird flu outbreaks in Belgium since February 21 and in France since February 24.

Infections of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain were reported in Belgium and France, which share a border, late last year.

The lifting of the said import ban took effect on April 11 after the memorandum orders were signed. —KG, GMA Integrated News