WHEREAS, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, based on a report submitted to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) last 03 March 2003, has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI);

WHEREAS, the Philippines imports poultry and poultry products from Netherlands; 

WHEREAS, there is a need to prevent the entry of pathogenic virus causing avian flu to protect the health of the local poultry population; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LUIS P. LORENZO, JR., Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby institute the following emergency measures: 

Banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the Netherlands; 

Immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation and issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearance/International Veterinary Certificate Import Permit for applications relevant to the importation of the above-stated commodities from the Netherlands by the Bureau of Animal Industry; 

Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from the Netherlands by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major sea/air ports. 

This ORDER shall take effect immediately. 

Adopted: 04 March 2003 

(SGD.) LUIS P. LORENZO, JR.
Secretary 

Recommending Approval: 

(SGD.) JOSE Q. MOLINA, DVM, MVS
  Director, Bureau of Animal Industry