WHEREAS, based on the final report dated 21 September 2006 submitted by the Direzione Generale Sanita Veterinaria e Alimenti of Italy to the Office of International des Epizooties (OIE), there were no more evidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI);

WHEREAS, based on the Article 2.7.12.3 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE, HPNAI-free status can be regained 3 months after the 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 Italy 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 Italy.

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orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly,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; 01 April 2008

(SGD.) ARTHUR C. YAP
Secretary