MANILA, Philippines — Following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in France and Belgium, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned the import of poultry products from these countries.
The DA said in a statement on Tuesday that the DA banned poultry products to avoid the potential spread of HPAI-H5N1 after both Belgium and France reported outbreaks to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
“H5N1 is a virus that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans, so we are taking this step to protect the health of local poultry populations, poultry workers, and consumers,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement. “We are doing this,” he said.
According to the WOAH website, H5N1 is a subtype of avian influenza.
The DA said France and Belgium simultaneously reported avian influenza outbreaks to WOAH in December 2023.
The ban officially began on Monday and will last indefinitely, the DA’s office said. However, imports of meat already in transit before the ban will be allowed if the poultry products were slaughtered before November 12 in France and before November 16 in Belgium.
“All imports after the above date, except for heat-treated products, will not be taken into account upon arrival in the country,” the prosecutor’s office said.
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