ILOILO CITY – Iloilo City on Thursday declared an indefinite ban on all live birds, chicken, poultry products, and by-products from areas in Luzon and Mindanao where there is still a bird flu outbreak.
“The continuing avian influenza outbreak from Luzon and Mindanao and the reported cases prevalent to the regions situated thereto call for the continued implementation of the temporary ban on entry of related products, which may endanger not only our local poultry industry but also for the unknown risks that this outbreak may cause to the consuming public,” according to Executive Order 43 released by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
The order took effect immediately and extended the ban first declared in EO 6 issued on July 6, 2022.
The ban covers all live birds (poultry and non-poultry), including day-old chicks, pullets, hatching eggs, ready-to-lay pullets, semen, fresh eggs, embryonated eggs, manure, ducks, quails, and other poultry products and by-products.
Pigeons for racing, flying, training, breeding, and other related activities and gamefowls originating or have traveled to the affected area and intending to return to the city are also prohibited.
Live ducks for grazing, and transport or movement of table eggs, salted eggs, quail eggs, ready-to-lay eggs, and embryonated eggs are also prohibited from entering the city.
Exempted from the ban, however, is the trans-shipment of imported day-old chicks, day-old pullets, hatching eggs, and imported gamefowls from international airports and seaports.
The local government will also allow the entry of poultry meat from Luzon and Mindanao provided that the shipment has a Meat Inspection Certificate for domestic meat products and a Certificate of Meat Inspection for imported meat products issued by the National Meat Inspection Service.
The certificates must be accompanied by a shipping permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry.
“Strict implementation of quarantine inspections shall be imposed at all ports of entry,” the order indicated.
The City Veterinary Office, in coordination with concerned offices of the Department of Agriculture, was also directed to inspect all regulatory requirements of incoming poultry and non-poultry products, as well as conduct surveillance of critical and risk areas and collect samples for avian influenza screening. (PNA)