Japan live poultry banned in the Philippines

According to Agriculture Secretary, Arthur Yap, the ban was necessary to protect human health and the poultry industry in the Philippines, which has remained free of bird flu ever since the H5N1 virus strain re-emerged in Asia in 2003.

The ban was based on a report submitted by the Japanese government to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), attesting to the presence of a highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus in Japan.

“There is a possibility that travellers may bring in pet birds, poultry and poultry products from Japan,” Yap said. “Thus, I have ordered Department of Agriculture quarantine officers and inspectors at all major airports and seaports to stop and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Japan.”

Yap said the ban covers all domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Japan. The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are the only bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia.