WHEREAS, based on the report submitted to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Southern British Columbia has regained its avian-influenza free status on 11 June 2009;

WHEREAS, cleaning and disinfection of the affected farms were completed on 11 March 2009 and that ongoing surveillance has not detected any additional case;

WHEREAS, based on the evaluation of the Bureau of Animal Industry, the risk of contamination from importing poultry and poultry products from Southern British Columbia is negligible;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JESUS EMMANUEL M. PARAS, Officer-in-Charge, by the powers 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, semen originating from Southern British Columbia.

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All orders rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.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: 22 June 2009

(SGD.) JESUS EMMANUEL M. PARAS
Officer in Charge