WHEREAS, based on the final report submitted by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) last 17 August 2004, it has completely eradicated the H⁵ N² subtype of avian influenza in Texas; H⁷ N² subtype in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, USA;

WHEREAS, based on the extensive surveillance conducted around the index flock, has not detected any further evidence of the virus;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Texas, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, USA is negligible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARTHUR C. YAP, Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby lift the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Texas, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, USA.

All import transactions of the above products shall be in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Commission (DA-BAI-NMIC).

All orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 08 Sept. 2004


(SGD.) ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary