The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to p
The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to prevent the virus from entering the country.
The import restriction also applies to poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and bird semen. However, shipments already in transit or accepted at Philippine ports before the official notice will be allowed entry, provided the birds or products were processed before February 3.
Any shipments that do not meet these conditions will be denied entry and either returned to Belgium, redirected to another country, or destroyed. Veterinary quarantine officers have been instructed to confiscate all non-compliant goods unless they are heat-treated, which renders them safe for import.
Belgian authorities reported the outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health in February, confirming the presence of the H5N1 strain among domestic birds in the Oost-Vlaanderen region.
Read next
21:30
Greece
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported on Monday that six children in the Samos migrant camp in Greece are suffering from acute malnutrition, spotlighting worsening humanitarian conditions in the EU-funded facility.
20:00
Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s interim head, Muhammad Yunus, has written to U.S. President Donald Trump requesting a three-month delay on a 37% tariff on imports, emphasizing efforts to boost imports from the U.S.
18:54
EU - USA
European Union trade ministers voiced strong support on Monday for launching negotiations with Washington to defuse escalating trade tensions, while also preparing targeted countermeasures against U.S. tariffs.
18:30
Football
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side must believe they can make history as they prepare to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates on Tuesday.
18:00
Bird flu
The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to p
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment