The government of the Philippines has implemented a temporary ban on poultry products from Sweden following the confirmation of a bird flu outbreak in one of its municipalities.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 12 on March 11, authorizing the temporary ban on poultry meat, day-old chicks, and eggs from Sweden. The ban was enacted in response to an outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI) in Ystad, Municipality of Skane County, Sweden, on January 5, affecting domestic birds.
The decision was based on an official report submitted by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Swedish Board of Agriculture to the World Organisation for Animal Health on January 19, 2024. Laurel emphasized that the ban aims to protect the health of the domestic poultry population in the Philippines.
Under the ban, Manila suspended the processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearances for poultry products from Sweden. However, shipments in transit, loaded, or accepted at port before the memo’s official communication to Swedish authorities will be allowed, provided they were slaughtered on or before December 22, 2023.
Manila warned of confiscating all shipments of poultry products from Sweden, except heat-treated products. This action follows a similar ban on poultry products from the Czech Republic, which was issued on March 8 under Memorandum Order 11. The ban was in response to an outbreak of HPAI in Chocen – Kosorin, Usti nad Orlici, Pardubicky of the Czech Republic, on January 30, 2024.
While Sweden and the Czech Republic are not considered major sources of poultry products for the Philippines, the government is taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
Source: Business Mirror
