Conditions for Importation of Domestic Birds
Importation of domestic birds requires an international animal health certificate confirming that:
- The birds show no clinical signs of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
- Birds come from establishments regularly inspected by veterinary authorities.
- These establishments are free from HPAI and not located in HPAI infected zones.
- Birds have been held in quarantine for at least 21 days prior to shipment and tested negative for HPAI.
- The birds have not been vaccinated against HPAI.
Conditions for Importation of Wild Birds
Requirements for wild birds include:
- Presentation of an international animal health certificate confirming no clinical signs of HPAI on the day of shipment.
- Quarantine for at least 2 days prior to shipment after capture.
- Negative diagnostic test result for HPAI before entering quarantine.
Conditions for Day-Old Chicks, Turkey Poults, and Newly-Hatched Avian Species
These birds must have certificates confirming:
- Origin from hatcheries inspected regularly by veterinary authorities.
- Hatcheries free from HPAI and situated outside infected zones.
- Birds have not been vaccinated against HPAI.
Conditions for Importation of Hatching Eggs
Hatching eggs must be accompanied by certificates attesting that:
- They originate from hatcheries inspected by veterinary authorities.
- The hatcheries or establishments are free from HPAI and not in infected zones.
- The birds within these establishments have not been vaccinated against HPAI.
Conditions for Semen of Domestic and Wild Birds
Semen import requires certificates affirming:
- Donor birds show no clinical HPAI signs on collection day.
- Donors have never been vaccinated against HPAI live virus vaccine.
- Donors come from establishments regularly inspected and free from HPAI.
- These establishments are not in infected zones.
Conditions Regarding Fresh Meat of Poultry
Fresh meat imports require an international sanitary certificate confirming:
- Meat derives from birds housed in establishments free from HPAI and outside infected zones.
- Birds were slaughtered in abattoirs outside HPAI infected zones.
- The birds were healthy before and after slaughter.
Conditions for Meat Products of Birds
Imported meat products must be certified that:
- The meat comes from healthy birds slaughtered in abattoirs outside infected zones.
- The meat products have been processed to inactivate HPAI virus.
- Post-processing precautions were observed to prevent contamination by HPAI.
Conditions for Products of Animal Origin for Animal Feed or Industrial Use
For products such as meat, meat flour, feathers, and down:
- An international sanitary certificate must affirm that these products have undergone heat treatment or other processing to destroy the HPAI virus.
Compliance and Implementation
The lifting of the temporary import ban is contingent upon strict adherence to international animal health standards as recommended by the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) Animal Health Code. Veterinary authorities’ inspection and regular monitoring are mandatory to ensure biosecurity and prevent the introduction of HPAI into the country.
Legal Authority and Adoption
This directive was adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture on 8 June 1998. The memorandum represents an official government policy aimed at balancing trade and biosecurity concerns associated with avian products from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong SAR.