SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The Bureau of Customs (B0C)- Port of Subic was placed in full alert status following restriction on the entry into the country of domestic and wild birds and their products from Australia following the outbreak of avian influenza there.

According to Subic Port collector Maritess Martin, it is in compliance with the Department of Agriculture Memorandum Order No. 40, which prohibits the importation of domestic and wild birds from Australia.

The department said the Australian government reported on July 24, 2020, that an outbreak of H7N7 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, hit Lethbridge, Victoria, Australia.

Also banned for importation are poultry meat products, day-old chicks, eggs and semen.

The memorandum, however, clarified that all incoming poultry shipments with Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance on or before August 6 may be allowed to enter the country provided that the frozen meat has slaughter/process before July 3, 2020.

Martin said the restriction is a precautionary measure to safeguard the health of the general public against the ill effects that might be caused by avian influenza.