Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday announced the temporary import ban of poultry products from France after the European country reported an Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak last Aug. 7. 'We are imposing the ban as a preemptive measure to stop the entry of infected birds and their by-products into the country. This step will prevent the spread of the virus that could have a devastating impact on the local poultry industry,' DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement. Under DA Memorandum Order 40, the ban will cover the importation of domestic and wild birds or shipment of live poultry, poultry products, and by-products including day-old chicks and semen. Issuance of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC) from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) is also suspended for shipments from the said country. 'Only birds slaughtered or products processed before July 25, 2024, will be allowed to enter the Philippines,' the DA said. The Philippines has imported 150,752 kilograms of poultry products from France from January to August this year. Source: Philippines News Agency