MANILA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has temporarily banned poultry imports from Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania due to the bird flu outbreaks in these U.S. states.
In a memorandum dated March 4, Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the ban covers domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen originating from the three states.
He noted several outbreaks of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in the three states in January and February.
The memo said that the "rapid spread" of bird flu in the U.S. in a short period since the first laboratory detection necessitates a wider coverage of trade restrictions to prevent the entry of this virus and protect the health of the local poultry population.
With the import ban, the Department of Agriculture immediately suspended the processing, evaluation of applications, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for these commodities. ■
