MANILA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government lifted the temporary ban against poultry products imported from Melbourne, Australia after the government has determined that the risk of bring in such products into the Philippines is already " negligible."

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said Tuesday that with the lifting of the ban, the Philippine government will resume the issuance of import permits for poultry products and wild birds from Melbourne.

Alcala said Australia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry has submitted an official report to the Office International des Epizooties stating that the avian influenza event in Melbourne in Victoria has already been resolved last June 5.

He added that the disinfection of infected premises was completed on March 6 and no further cases of AI have been detected.

The Philippines imposed a temporary ban on poultry products from Melbourne in January after Australia confirmed the presence of LPAI subtype H5 in duck meat grower farm. LPAI was detected following a routine surveillance of the farm.

While Australia is not a traditional source of poultry meat for the Philippines, the DA said it imposed the ban as a " precautionary measure" to prevent travelers from bringing in wild birds and pets into the country.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in Asia that remains free from the dreaded AI virus.

July 24, 2012

Source: Xinhua

• Viet Nam’s trade surplus with EU expands amid economic headwinds
• Steel, cement and electricity firms to trade emissions quotas under Viet Nam's carbon market
• VCCI proposes 11 recommendations to quantify support for SMEs
• Trump’s copper tariff decision hangs over global metal market
• Global capital sees potential in Europe but calls for lighter regulation