The Department of Agriculture (DA) has enforced a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products, from Japan and Austria following outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in both countries.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate memorandum orders on Tuesday, Nov. 12, announcing the ban in response to confirmed HPAI cases.
Temporary restriction is necessary to shield the Philippine poultry industry from animal health threats that could jeopardize food security, he stated.
“The poultry industry is a major investment and job generator, and a vital component in ensuring the country’s food security,” Laurel said in a statement.
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that the local poultry population is not unduly placed at risk from highly infectious diseases.”
The recent outbreaks were officially reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed an H5 subtype bird flu outbreak in Atsuma, Hokkaido, which occurred on Oct. 16, 2024, impacting domestic birds.
As such, an H5N1 outbreak was reported in Austria’s Mattighofen, Braunau am Inn, Oberosterreich, confirmed by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety on Oct. 7.
Following these reports, the DA directed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to halt the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for birds and poultry products from the affected regions.
This includes restrictions on imports of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen for artificial insemination of hens.