WHEREAS, the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed the occurrence of avian flu in the State of Pennsylvania, USA, starting December 2001;

WHEREAS, type H7N2 virus was identified as causing low pathogenic type of the avian influenza outbreaks in the said US state;

WHEREAS, as indicated in the OIE Manual, H7N2 virus could develop to highly pathogenic avian influenza;

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan imposed a ban on poultry and poultry products from USA;

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

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, LEONARDO Q. MONTEMAYOR, Secretary of Agriculture, by the power vested in me by law, do hereby institute the following emergency measures:

1. Banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the state of Pennsylvania USA;

2. Banning the importation of poultry meat from birds slaughtered in Pennsylvania, starting from December 1, 2001 onwards;

3. 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 state of Pennsylvania, USA by the Bureau of Animal Industry;

4. Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments into the country of suspected/affected products originating from the state of Pennsylvania, USA by all DA Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major sea/air ports.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 30 January 2002