WHEREAS, based on the Epidemiological Summary: Eradication of Notifiable Avian Influenza (NAI) in West Virginia, ninety (90) days elapsed without any evidence of NAI since the final cleansing and disinfection of the premises conducted on 18 May 2007;

WHEREAS, based on the Article 2.7.12.3 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2007 of the OIE, NAI-free status can be regained 3 months after a stamping-out policy (including disinfection of all affected establishments) is applied, providing that surveillance in accordance with Appendix 3.8.9 has been carried out during that three-month period;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from West Virginia, 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 West Virginia, 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 Service (DA-BAI-NMIS).

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orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.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: 16 Oct. 2007