PH bans birds, poultry products from Japan, Austria

The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds as well as poultry products from Austria and Japan due to reported outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the respective countries.

In a statement on Thursday, the DA said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate memorandum orders —MO No. 49 (Austria) and MO No. 48  (Japan)— for the implementation of the import ban.

The ban aims to safeguard the local poultry industry from the risks of animal health threats, according to the Agriculture Department.

The order was triggered when Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported an outbreak of the H5 subtype of bird flu in Atsuma, Hokkaido, to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on November 5, 2024.

The outbreak, which occurred on October 16, 2024, affected domestic birds.

Likewise, the DA banned importation of birds and poultry from Austria after its

Dr. Ulrich Herzog, Vice president of the Regional Commission of Austria reported to WOAH an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu subtype in Mattighofen, Braunau am Inn, Oberosterreich.

The outbreak, which was confirmed on October 7, 2024 by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, had affected domestic birds as well.

Tiu Laurel, for his part, said that the memorandum orders were issued to protect the local poultry industry from potential animal and public health risks.

"The poultry industry is a major investment and job generator, and a vital component in ensuring the country's food security," said the DA chief.

“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that the local poultry population is not unduly placed at risk from highly infectious diseases,” he added.

As part of the import ban, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has been directed to cease issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen for artificial insemination of hens. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News