TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 12 (PIA) -- As the threat of the Avian Influenza (AI) spreads and nears Bohol and as the fears that local supply cannot satisfy the need, Bohol provincial government has issued an order to regulate the entry of fresh, frozen poultry products, fresh poultry eggs from mainland Luzon, mainland Mindanao, and other infected areas.

Through Executive Order No 5, series of 2020, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado ruled that fresh and frozen poultry meat of domestic origins as well as imported sources should have an accompanying Meat Inspection Certificate issued by the national meat Inspection Services (NMIS) and should have a Veterinary Shipping Permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry to be allowed entry to Bohol.

For cooked and canned processed products, the shipment should be accompanied by a copy of the License to Operate (LTO) of the processor as issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).

It would also be tougher for uncooked processed poultry products to get in because border control officials here would be looking for the Veterinary Shipping Permit, the processor’s LTO as issued by the FDA and the Certificate of Product Registration issued again by the FDA.

The EO also sets a process of entry for shipped table eggs, salted eggs, and quail eggs.

The said EO lists five documents that the shipper must show for the products to be allowed entry to Bohol, namely: Veterinary Health Certificate from the Provincial Veterinarian of the port of origin, a Veterinary Shipping permit from Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Poultry farm accreditation by BAI, an Avian Influenza negative test result taken a month prior to the shipping and that these items should be shipped in new and properly sanitized containers or egg trays.

In the case of balut whether fresh or cooked, aside from a Veterinary Health Certificate and Veterinary Shipping Permit accompanying the goods, they should have a certification of ultra violet light disinfection for fresh balut or using food-grade disinfectant for cooked balut issued by the Veterinary Quarantine Officer of the port of departure.

Balut, whether cooked or raw, should also be accompanied by a Duck Farm Accreditation from the BAI, an AI negative test result taken within one month prior to shipment, plus an Accreditation Certificate as Balut Distributor from the office of the Provincial Veterinarian and that these must be transported in pulp organic egg trays and paper boxes or cartons. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)