Cebu Bans Poultry in Luzon, Mindanao Over Avian Flu

The provincial government of Cebu has imposed a ban on poultry after the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, in the country.

Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 9-A on April 19, which bans poultry products from areas affected by Avian Influenza (AI).

The EO 9-A aims to protect Cebu’s 12 billion poultry industry.

The latest EO imposes a ban on live birds (poultry or non-poultry) products from Luzon, Mindanao, and other AI-infected areas and countries from entering Cebu province for 45-days. This includes day-old chicks, day-old pullets, ready-to-lay pullets, ducks, quails, game fowls, pigeons, and pet birds.

Meanwhile, live birds whether poultry or non-poultry that came from AI-free areas could still enter Cebu granting they can present the following:

a. Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the Provincial Veterinarian where the live birds originated from
b. Veterinary Shipping Permit issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry/Deputized Veterinary Quarantine Officers
c. ELISA/HI/RT-PCR Negative Laboratory Test Result on Avian Influenza
d. Certification from the Provincial Veterinarian that No Avian Influenza outbreak has occurred in the sourced farm and area in the past seven days before shipment
e. Local Transport Permit (LTP) issued by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for wild birds

Poultry meat products are allowed to enter the province but additional requirements should be secured.

a. Domestic Poultry Meat – Meat Inspection Certificate (MIC) issued by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and Veterinary Shipping Permit
b. For Imported Poultry Meat – Certificate of Meat Inspection (COMI) issued by the NMIS and Veterinary Shipping Permit
c. For Processed Poultry and canned poultry products – License to Operate (LTO) and Certificate of Product Registration issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Egg products such as table eggs, salted eggs, quail eggs, balut or embryonated eggs, and hatching eggs are allowed to enter Cebu province provided that requirements are presented by the shipper.

This includes a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the Provincial Veterinarian, Veterinarian Shipping Permit and an ELISA/HI/RT-PCR Negative Laboratory Test Result on Avian Influenza from the sourced flock.

In addition, hatching eggs must be placed on plastic trays and containers for cleaning and disinfection.

Imported poultry products from AI-free countries bound for Cebu province are allowed to enter as long as they provide necessary documents such as SPS Import Clearance, Landing Permit, Notice of Quarantine, and Veterinary Shipping Permit.

Moreover, poultry by-products such as bird dung, bird manure, and bird feathers are not allowed to enter Cebu province.

Transshipment of live birds coming from AI-Free provinces or areas is allowed to enter Cebu only if it is done within the vicinity of the seaport or airport. (ASC)