• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Starting Aug. 1, all shipments of live poultry, other bird species, eggs, and poultry products and byproducts coming from Western Visayas shall be subjected to applicable requirements on avian influenza (Al), or bird flu, testing.
The Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas issued the advisory July 23, as it noted that the waiving of AI testing per shipment of live poultry, other bird species, eggs, and poultry products and byproducts, except live ducks, coming from Western Visayas for local movement purposes is only until July 30 this year.
“Therefore, starting Aug. 1, all shipments…shall be subjected to the applicable requirements the Bureau of Animal Industry-Veterinary Quarantine Services (BAI-VQS) with the need for AI testing pertaining to animal movement regulations, or until a new memorandum for bi-annual surveillance will be issued,” the advisory said.
It added that this is in compliance with DA MC 38-2022, or the AI updated guidelines on the movement of live poultry, other bird species, eggs, and poultry products and byproducts, except live ducks during an AI outbreak, for AI-free regions.
The BAI issued MC 25-2024 in May on the waiving of the AI testing after it noted that Western Visayas areas had shown negative test results for influenza type A virus, or bird flu, during a series of surveillance activities in identified high-risk areas in the region.
The test result, which are the basis of surveillance, shall be valid for six months from the date of the first sample collection for bi-annual surveillance activities conducted in the region. “Any reported evidence of confirmed Al incursion within any of the provinces in Region VI will cause…consequent revocation of this memorandum circular”. | CGC
