Domestic and wild bird importation from New Zealand will be temporarily banned amid threats of an avian influenza outbreak, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move is aimed at preventing the entry of high pathogenic avian influenza into the Philippines.

“The poultry industry, including egg production, is a multi-billion-peso sector that supports significant investments, creates numerous jobs, and plays a vital role in ensuring the country’s food security,” said Laurel. 

“The ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, as well as eggs, day-old chicks, semen, and poultry meat, is crucial in preventing the entry of high pathogenic avian influenza into the Philippines, safeguarding the health of the local poultry population,” he added.

The ban was stipulated in the memorandum issued by Laurel, which was based on the tests conducted by the New Zealand National Animal Health Laboratory on domestic birds from East Otago, Waitaki, and Canterbury in late November.

The tests yielded positive test results for H7N6 strain of high pathogenicity avian influenza. The outbreak has been officially reported by New Zealand authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Laurel also ordered the immediate suspension of processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for these items from these areas from New Zealand as part of the ban.,

He, however, said that shipments already in transit, loaded, or accepted at ports before the official communication of the ban will be allowed entry, provided the products were slaughtered or produced before Nov. 9, 2024.

Quarantine authorities, he said, have been instructed to confiscate different poultry commodities cited in this Memorandum Order.