Philippines Lifts Ban on Turkish Poultry Products

The Philippines has lifted a temporary ban on poultry and poultry products from Turkey following confirmation that the country is free from avian influenza (AI) virus.

Department of Agriculture secretary Bernie Fondevilla said a report submitted to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) confirmed that Turkey declared itself free from the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Based on the OIE report, the disinfection of all affected establishments wa completed two years ago.

Since 2003, Turkey has had the sixth-largest number of reported H5N1 infection cases.

Turkey reported its first outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in mid October 2006, according to the World Health Organisation.