Philippines bans poultry imports from Britain

The Philippines has temporarily banned all imports of live birds and poultry products from Britain after a bird flu outbreak in Suffolk.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the ban was based on a report submitted to the Animal Health Organisation.

An outbreak earlier this month of the H5N1 strain of bird flu on a farm owned by Europe’s biggest turkey producer forced Bernard Matthews PLC to slaughter 159,000 turkeys.

“I have directed all (Department of Agriculture) quarantine officers and inspectors at all major airports and seaports to watch out for travellers who may bring in pet birds, poultry and poultry products from the UK and to stop and confiscate all shipments of poultry and poultry products originating from that country,” Mr Yap said in a statement.