Philippines bans Mexico poultry imports due to bird flu

The Philippines agriculture department hasbanned the import of poultry products and by-products from Mexico due to the recentoutbreak of H7N3 avian influenza in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Memorandum Order No. 14, dated July 3, shows the ban covers inbound shipments of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Mexico. Following a report of the outbreak, Philippines Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance for the importation of poultry and related products from Mexico. Alcala also tasked the department’s veterinary quarantine officers or inspectors in all major ports nationwide to block and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products from the Central American country.

There have been no cases of avian flu in the Philippines so far.