Date Posted : 08 March 2024

Effectivity : The Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain enforced unless revoked in writing.  

Ban on importation of products from Czech Republic 

Based on the official report submitted by the Director General, State Veterinary Administration, Ministry of Agriculture Czech Republic to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on 31 January 2024, there was an outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI) in Chocen – Kosorin, Usti and Orlici Pardubicky of he Czech Republic on 31 January 2024 affecting birds (domestic) as confirmed by National Reference Laboratory, State Veterinary Institute (SVI). Thus, there is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population. 

Accordingly, the Order is issued to institute the following emergency measures for the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Belgium: 

1. Banning the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, and semen;
2. Immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the above-stated commodities;
3. All shipments coming from Japan that are IN TRANSIT/LOADED/ACCEPTED UNTO PORT before the official communication of this Order to the Japanese Authorities shall be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered/produced on or before Noember 10, 2023;
4. Shipments that have not complied with the conditions outlined in Item 3 shall be dealt with as per Administrative Circular 6 series of 2022, Article VI, Section III; and
5. Stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the above-stated commodities (with the exception of heat-treated products) into the country by all Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major ports of entry. 

 Repeal : All orders inconsistent herewith are deemed revoked.