WHEREAS, based on the provisions of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, a country or zone shall be considered infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) until 6 months have elapsed after the clinical recovery or death of the last affected animal;

WHEREAS, the last confirmed case of HPAI in the Netherlands occurred in May 11, 2003;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from the Netherlands is negligible.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LUIS P. LORENZO, JR., Secretary of Agriculture, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby lift the temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from the Netherlands, thereby allowing the importation of the abovementioned products.

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-NIMC).

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orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.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: 12 Nov. 2003

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