City imposes poultry ban to avert ‘bird flu’

Iloilo City has temporarily banned the entry of poultry and non-poultry birds such as chicken, ducks, gamefowls, pigeons, quails including egg products from Luzon following the reported cases of the highly contagious avian influenza or “bird flu” in the latter area.

Mayor Jerry Treñas issued Executive Order (E.O.) No. 41 last Tuesday mandating the temporary ban on the entry of live poultry and non-poultry birds from affected areas in mainland Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The EO was subsequently amended on April 20, 2022 to include egg products in the ban and expand the area of coverage to entire Luzon.

“The Iloilo City Veterinarian Office has determined that the entry of egg products shall be likewise banned in order to ensure protection from contamination and contagion,” read part of the amended E.O. No. 41-A.

Under the EO, the temporary ban shall cover live birds (poultry or non-poultry) particularly all species of all species of live birds except day-old breeder chicks, day-old pullets, and hatching eggs from Luzon.

However, day-old breeder chicks, day-old pullets and ready to lay pullets and hatching eggs must only be sourced from farms located in Avian influenza disease incidence-free municipality/city provided that additional shipping permits shall be secured.

The EO also prohibits the transport and movement of pigeons for racing, flying, training, breeding, and other related activities.

Transport of gamefowls from mainland Luzon and affected cities/municipalities in Mindanao for cockfighting and other related activities in Iloilo City are likewise prohibited but the transport of gamefowls back to the affected areas shall be allowed provided that it shall be transported back to MIMAROPA, Visayas and other areas that are free from the avian flu.

“Transport/movement of gamefowls from MIMAROPA, Visayas and non-affected cities/municipalities in Mindanao to mainland Luzon is allowed. However, due to the dynamic Avian influenza situation in Mainland Luzon and affected cities/municipalities in Mindanao, transport/movement of gamefowls back to MIMAROPA, Visayas, and non-affected areas in Mindanao is prohibited,” the EO said.

Moreover, the EO also bans the entry of live ducks from mainland Luzon and affected cities/municipalities in Mindanao for the purposes of grazing.

Aside from this the transport of live ducks and quails from Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Benguet, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato, Davao del Sur shall also be suspended.

Entry of egg products from Luzon such as table eggs, salted eggs, quail eggs, embryonated eggs (balut) is likewise banned.

The transport of poultry meat from Luzon and affected cities and/or municipalities in Mindanao to MIMAROPA, Visayas and non-affected areas in Mindanao shall be allowed provided that the shipment is accompanied by Meat Inspection Certification (MIC) for domestic meat products or Certificate of Meat Inspection (CMI) for imported meat products.

The EO also mandates for the strict implementation of quarantine inspections at all ports of entry-land, sea, or air in Iloilo City.

“The City Veterinary Office and in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Region 6 Regulatory Division and the Bureau of Animal Industry – Regional Veterinary Quarantine Service 6 is directed to inspect the regulatory requirements of all incoming poultry and poultry products. The CVO in coordination with component veterinary and agricultural offices shall conduct surveillance of the identified critical and risk areas and shall conduct laboratory sample collection for AI screening – shall monitor migratory or wild birds in the area.”

Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting several species of food producing birds (chickens, turkeys, quails, etc.) as well as pet birds and wild birds.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has reported confirmed cases of avian influenza in Pampanga, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Benguet, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and Davao del Sur. (DG)