BAI visits Birds International, Inc.
Date Posted: January 8, 2018 | Category:Birds International, Inc. (BII) is a private breeding farm engaged in the sustainable captive breeding of both endemic and exotic species of endangered parrots. It currently houses around 150 different species of endangered parrots.
In 2008, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in cooperation with BII applied for the EU accreditation to be allowed to export live captive bred birds in commercial quantity to the EU. On April 23-30, 2010, the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU inspected and audited the facilities and records of both BAI and BII to evaluate the ability of the Competent Authority of the Philippines which is the BAI, to deliver the relevant standards in relation to animal health conditions and certification procedures for export of captive bred birds to the European Union. After the assessment conducted, both the EU delegation and BAI provided recommendations to improve BII’s facility. BII committed to address the said recommendations.
In 2011, the EU commission approved the application and the Philippines became the 5th country allowed to commercially export live birds to the EU. Other countries include Canada, Israel, Chile and USA.
On May 12, 2014, BAI Director, Dr. Rubina Cresencio, BAI Asst. Director, Dr. Simeon Amurao, Jr. and the Chief of National Veterinary Quarantine Services, Dr. Florence Silvano visited BII to see the improvements undertaken as per recommendation of the joint European Union delegation and BAI inspection in 2010. Among those inspected were the newly renovated bird hospital, laboratory, food preparation area and the newly constructed holding area for birds ready to be exported.
During the said visit, BII also presented the risk analysis they conduct before they import new breeding stocks. This includes numerous bai for various Avian diseases such as Bird Flu. Tests are administered by reputable foreign animal laboratories, mostly from the US and Europe and the government laboratory of the exporting country. Only aviary farms that passed the BII risk analysis are allowed to export birds to BII.