TEMPORARY BAN ON THE TRANSSHIPMENT FROM JAPAN AND CHINA OF DOMESTIC AND WILD BIRDS AND THEIR PRODUCTS INCLUDING POULTRY MEAT, DAY-OLD CHICKS, EGGS AND SEMEN ORIGINATING FROM THE…

WHEREAS, the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the occurrence of avian flu in the State of Pennsylvania, USA, starting December 2001;

WHEREAS, type H7N2 virus was identified as causing low pathogenic type of the avian influenza outbreak in the said US state;

WHEREAS, as indicated in the OIE Manual, H7N2 virus could develop to highly pathogenic avian influenza;

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan imposed a ban on poultry and poultry products including eggs from USA;

WHEREAS, the Entry — Exit Inspection Quarantine of Peoples’ Republic of China imposed a ban on poultry meat from a slaughter plant in Atlanta, Georgia USA due to bacterial contamination with E. coli;

WHEREAS, the poultry and poultry products from the USA already in the export pipeline to Japan and China may be transshipped to the Philippines;

WHEREAS, there is a need to prevent the entry of pathogenic virus causing avian flu to protect the health of the local poultry population;

WHEREAS, there is a need to prevent the entry of contaminated poultry meat to protect the health of the local human population;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LEONARDO Q. MONTEMAYOR, Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby institute the following emergency measures:

1. Banning the transshipment from Japan and China of domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from the United States of America;

2. Immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance/International Veterinary Certificate Import Permit for applications relevant to the transshipment of the above-stated commodities from Japan and China which originated from the USA by the Bureau of Animal Industry;

3. Stoppage and confiscation of all transshipment into the country of suspected/affected products from Japan and China which originated from USA by all DA veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major sea/air ports.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 January 2002