WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/771 
11 April 2007 
 (07-1444) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
 
AVIAN INFLUENZA AND FMD STATUS AS OF 1 MARCH 2007 
 
Communication from the Philippines
  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 11 April 2007,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Philippines. 
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1. The Philippines would like to provide the following  information with regard to the country's 
status, management and control of Avian Infl uenza and Foot-and-Mouth diseases.  This paper 
elaborates on the report made by the Philippines during the SPS Committee meeting on 1 March 2007. 
I. AVIAN INFLUENZA (AI) 
2. To date, the Philippines remains bird flu-free. 
3. The country's authority on AI, the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of 
Agriculture, has tested a representative number of blood samples last year from native/game fowls, 
chickens and ducks in 16 regions.  Disease surveillan ce covered twenty identified priority areas.  All 
tests yielded negative results for the Avian Flu agent. 
4. In view of its bird flu-free status, the Phili ppines continues to export chicken and chicken 
products, such as chicken yakitori, breeder day-ol d chicks, chicken hotdog and chicken franks, to 
trading partners, mainly in Asia and some in the Middle East and Africa. 
5. To keep its bird flu-free status, the Philippi nes addresses AI threats coming from illegal trade 
of poultry and exotic birds, migratory bird hab itats, and human cases from other countries through the 
following measures. 
A. I
MPOSITION OF TEMPORARY BAN ON THE IMPORTATION OF POULTRY AND POULTRY 
PRODUCTS FROM AI-AFFECTED COUNTRIES  
6. The ban covers all poultry products originati ng from AI-affected countries, including those 
that are already in transit at the time the ban is  declared.  This measure involves the following: 
- no Veterinary Quarantine Clearance will be issued; 
- live birds or eggs will be destroyed; 
- processed poultry products will be returned to origin; 
- trans-shipment through an AI-affected country is also prohibited. G/SPS/GEN/771 
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  B. E
NFORCEMENT OF THE WILDLIFE ACT 
7. This is being led by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources in coordination with the local government units and the local 
Philippine National Police.  Under this Act, no perm its will be issued for poultry wildlife or exotic 
poultry species from AI-affected countries, and there will be no blood collection of migratory birds, 
regardless of purpose or collection technique. 
C. PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN HUMANS  
8. The Department of Health takes care of this  concern, under which it is recommended that 
influenza vaccination should be given for all poultry workers and handlers. 
D. UPGRADING AI DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITY  
9. The Philippines has been upgrading the AI di agnostic capabilities of its national laboratory 
(Philippine Animal Health Centre) and regional laboratories through foreign assistance (including 
FAO, OIE, NZAID, Japan ODA). 
E. PREPAREDNESS FROM THE NATI ONAL TO THE LOCAL LEVEL  
10. AI Task Forces have been formed at the nati onal, regional, provincial and city/municipal 
levels to address the threat of AI.  Emergency preparedness and response plans are currently being 
undertaken. 
F. INFORMATION , EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC) 
11. IEC awareness campaigns on AI are being maintained.  Some IEC materials have been 
produced through international donors (e.g., USAID,  UNICEF).  Lectures on the Avian Influenza 
Protection Program (AIPP) are being conducted to  government agencies, NGOs, students, doctors, 
associations, the private sector and other concerned stakeholders. 
G. MINIMUM BIOSECURITY MEASURES  
12. These are mostly farm biosecurity measures which include: 
- establishment of biosecurity control poi nts (e.g., gates, shower rooms, 
footbaths, fumigation boxes); 
- proper rest period and disi nfection between flocks; 
- inaccessibility of farms to stray animals and free-flying birds; 
- proper disposal of mortalities; 
- no raising of domestic ducks and free-ra nge poultry in migratory bird areas, 
especially in wetlands; 
- no mixing of poultry and swine in the same holding facility; 
- recording of all movement to and from the facility (e.g., visitors, vehicles, 
deliveries). 
  G/SPS/GEN/771 
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  H. SURVEILLANCE AND PREVENTION IN AIRPORTS AND SEAPORTS  
13. The following surveillance and prevention measures are being implemented: 
- standardized footbath installations and replenishment of disinfectants; 
- inspection of luggage/cargo from AI-infected countries; 
- confiscation and destruction of unlicensed cargo; 
- screening for the AI virus upon arrival at airport or seaport of all imported 
poultry and poultry products. 
 
I. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPARTMENTALIZED POULTRY ZONES  
14. In case of the occurrence of AI, the Philippines will be divided into eight compartments to: 
- set up boundaries to prevent entry, and limit or stop spread of AI; 
- facilitate surveillance, detection and control;  and 
- ensure availability of disease-free production areas for export and local 
markets. 
 
15. The AIPP Manual of Procedures contains the general guidelines for the prevention and 
control of AI in the Philippines in Stage 1 (K eeping the Philippines Bird Flu-Free) and Stage 2 
(Control and Eradication of Bird Flu in Domestic Fowl). 
II. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) 
16. Internationally recognized FMD-free zones w ithout vaccination in the Philippines include 
Mindanao and Visayas-Palawan-Masbate, achieved in 2001 and 2002, respectively.  In the main 
island of Luzon, clinical cases have been eliminated  and status zones are a pplied through appropriate 
Department of Agriculture Administrative Orders.  In addition, the country implements the following 
measures: 
(a) Animal movement management and disease monitoring and surveillance for FMD are 
two of the most important components that the Bureau of Animal Industry is 
implementing through the National FMD Task Force.  Regional Quarantine Officers 
function also as FMD Coordinators to better monitor movement/activities concerning FMD susceptible animals and products. Well-established quarantine checkpoints are strategically located (in ports and highway s) to prevent disease incursion to free-
areas.  FMD-free farm accreditation has been  strengthened to ensure only healthy 
animals are transported to FMD-free areas in Luzon.  Likewise, standardization of 
shipping permits has also been strengthen ed to prevent traders from transporting 
FMD susceptible animals indiscriminately. 
(b) To validate that there is no FMD virus circulating in the country, a twice-a-year sero-
surveillance is conducted by every Region.  Further validation of the findings at the 
national diagnostic laboratory is also conduc ted at the World Reference Laboratory in 
Pirbright.  The sero-surveillance is also a u seful basis for determining if the vaccine 
strain currently used is still applicable based on the strain detected from samples 
taken in the field.   G/SPS/GEN/771 
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  (c) Moreover, administrative orders and memorandum circulars are in place and are 
being implemented at the national down to  the local levels through their respective 
local ordinances on the contro l and eradication of FMD. 
 
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