DAR, BoC to strictly monitor meat from abroad due to bird flu
THE Bureau of Customs [BoC] at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport [NAIA] in partnership with the Bureau of Animal Industry [BAI] will intensify their monitoring and inspection of meat cargo goods from various warehouses within the jurisdiction of the airport, including arriving international passengers.
This was the directive of Department of Agriculture [DAR] Secretary William Dar in a memorandum temporarily banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Hungary and Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, Japan where reported cases of avian virus.
Dar cited a report from Hungarian Agriculture authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health [WOAH], which stated that there were outbreaks of HPAI in Csaszartoltes and Jaszszentlaszlo, Bacs-Kiskun, Hungary affecting breeding ducks and geese.
Authorities from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported to BAI that there were several outbreaks of HPAI in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, Japan affecting domestic birds as confirmed by the National Institute of Animal Health National Laboratory.
The Secretary also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary [SPS] import clearance to the above-stated commodities.
In this regards, BoC-NAIA district collector Mimel Talusan and BAI officials whom they said that all shipments in transit of meat cargoes and its products arriving at NAIA will be accepted after an official communication from the Japanese and Hungarian authorities that the products were slaughtered or produced before October 27 and November 1, respectively.
They said all other shipments accepted at the port of origin the day after the date of the official communication to the Japanese and Hungarian authorities are advised not to sail.
BAI issued the temporary ban to prevent the entry of HPAI and other related virus to protect the health of the local poultry population of the country.
Talusan ordered confiscation of all mentioned products without necessary documents arriving in customs warehouses as supervisors and customs personnel at the airport terminals were notified about the order of the DA Secretary.
“We will continue to strictly enforce BAI quarantine controls on imported meat and meat products without clearance, health certificate and other required permits,” Talusan added.
