WHEREAS, North Korea, on Sunday, March 27, 2005, confirmed a bird flu outbreak at a couple of chicken farms in Pyongyang;

WHEREAS, Japan has banned poultry imports from North Korea following a reported bird flu outbreak in Pyongyang;

WHEREAS, the said farms had slaughtered and buried hundreds of thousands of chickens infected by Avian Influenza;

WHEREAS, there is a possibility that some travelers may bring in pet birds from North Korea;

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, ARTHUR C. YAP, 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 North Korea;

2. 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 North Korea by the Bureau of Animal Industry;

3. Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of poultry and poultry products into the country originating from North Korea by all DA Quarantine Inspectors/Officers at all major sea/air ports.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 29 March 2005

(SGD.) ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary