DA lifts temporary ban on Brazilian poultry as avian flu contained
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Friday, July 4, that the country has lifted the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Brazil.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the lifting was following the South American nation's successful resolution of an avian influenza outbreak.
This decision, Tiu Laurel said, aimed at strengthening food security and diversifying import sources, comes after Brazilian veterinary authorities confirmed the containment of the virus.
The lifting of the ban, under Memorandum Order No. 35, covered poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, which was initially imposed on May 19 due to the outbreak.
Brazilian authorities reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) that the outbreak has been resolved, with no new cases recorded since June 18.
Tiu Laurel noted that under the guidelines of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Brazil is now considered free of avian influenza.
He added that an evaluation by the DA, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, determined the risk of contamination from Brazilian poultry imports to be “negligible.”
The order took immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice. This move is significant as Brazil is a major global poultry exporter, reportedly accounting for a third of the world's chicken trade.
By resuming imports from Brazil, the DA aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to diversify the country’s sources of imported agricultural products, a strategy designed to enhance food security and mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on a limited number of suppliers.