WHEREAS,  the us department of agriculture confirmed the occurrence of avian influenza in pocomoke city, maryland, usa last march 5, 2004;

WHEREAS, two affected farms with a total population of 328,000 birds were quarantined and the birds depopulated;

WHEREAS, the Philippines import bird from the State of Maryland;

WHEREAS, there is a nedd to prevent the entry of avian influenza to prevent the health of 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:

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

2. Immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation and issuance of veterinary quarantine clearance/ international vetrerinary certificate/ import permit for applications relevant to the importation of the above-satated commodities from Maryland, USA by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

3. Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Maryland, USA all DA Quarantine/Inspectors at all major seal/airports.

This ORDER shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 09 Mar. 2004


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