DA lifts ban on poultry imports from Poland

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on poultry imports from Poland after the country has been cleared of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The department is now allowing the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Poland.

Covered by the lifting of the importation ban are poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen.

In a recently issued order, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said the department received confirmation from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that Poland is now free from bird flu.

Based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products is “negligible.”

All import transactions of the above mentioned products will be allowed according to the existing rules and regulations of the DA, BAI, and the National Meat Inspection Service.

The OIE is an inter-governmental organization that informs governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases.

It also coordinates the conduct of studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and of harmonizing regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products.