Manila prohibits the import of poultry from Hong Kong and China

Introduction: [Manila forbids the import of poultry from Hong Kong and China] Leonardo montemanyor, Minister of agriculture of the Philippines, on Saturday banned the import of poultry from Hong Kong and China because of the "bird flu" in Hong Kong "Minister montemayor ordered quarantine officials to keep a close eye on imported chickens from all major seaports," the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement The Ministry said montemayor also signed a memorandum ordering "to stop and confiscate all products from China and Hong Kong that are suspected to have arrived in the country or were infected by the avian influenza virus." The Ministry of Agriculture said montemayor also ordered the suspension of poultry processing licenses in Hong Kong and China The statement did not say how many poultry products the Philippines imported from Hong Kong and China Teodoro ablay, director of livestock industry, told Reuters by telephone that the Philippines imported about 22000 tons of chicken last year, but most of it came from the United States and Canada Officials in Hong Kong say they will kill 1.2 million chickens and other poultry in Hong Kong and stop poultry imports from mainland China to stop the spread of the virus, out of concern that it could infect humans This is the second time in less than four years that Hong Kong has been forced to slaughter poultry due to the flu In 1997, the Hong Kong government slaughtered 1.4 million chickens when a different avian influenza virus spread in Hong Kong, killing six people China feed industry information network qhw