CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A top official of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on Monday lifted the ban on the movement of chicken and egg products, allowing shipment from outside the 7-kilometer radius control area in Pampanga.
In a memorandum circular released by Assistant Secretary for Livestock and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Enrico Garzon Jr., he ordered that Luzon-to-Luzon movement of live birds including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, semen, manure and other products may be allowed provided this is outside of the 7-km radius control area of Pampanga and subject to some conditions.
The movement of live and domestic wild birds, including but not limited to chickens, ducks, geese, quails, doves, pigeons shall be accompanied by a shipping permit and a veterinary health certificate issued by a government sector veterinarian certifying that these products were sourced from farms with no incidence of Avian Influenza for the past 21 days prior to shipment.
For poultry meat, Garzon added, including but not limited to fresh, frozen meat, uncooked poultry products; movement shall be accompanied by a shipping permit and a meat inspection certificate.
Garzon confirmed that shipment outside the 7=km radius will be issued to poultry owners.
However, Garzon furthered the temporary ban will be lifted when there are no new cases reported 90 days after the stamping out activity including disinfection of all affected areas and surveillance.
Affected towns within the 7-km radius controlled areas are San Luis, Mexico, Sta.Ana and San Simon.
Meanwhile, Sto.Tomas Mayor John Sambo, as confirmed by Garzon, declared his town as Avian Flu free and could transport their chicken and egg products.
Sambo said his town is 10 kilometers away from affected areas in San Luis. Mortality rate of Sto Tomas is still normal.
He added that his town has 700,000 layers with 15 farms, producing 1.5 million eggs daily.
“We already set up our own quarantine area to prevent avian flu virus,” the mayor said in a press conference.
He appealed to BAI to expedite the processing of the shipment pass to heed the predicament of the poultry raisers here.
“Nangyayari nagiging masalimuot ang proseso ng pagsi-ship ng mga produkto namin dito sa Sto.Tomas dahil nahihirapan na rin ang mga poultry owners dito,” he ended.
Meantime, Animal Industry Nat’l Avian Influenza Focal Person Dr. Arlene Vytiaco said as of press time the agency’s target culling is 5-6 days period if given the right manpower in hauling the dead fowls. Culled fowls pegged at 18,685 will be buried on dried lots.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has earlier reminded the public that shipment ban is just a precautionary measure.
“We’re not saying that the virus has already spread, shipment ban is just a ‘precautionary measure,” Piñol added.
Farmers with culled birds will be compensated at P80 per head and P10 for every eggs.