The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has reinstated a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from South Dakota, USA, following reports of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued the ban after U.S. authorities confirmed multiple outbreaks affecting domestic birds in South Dakota, with the virus subsequently confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Iowa. The ban aims to protect the Philippine poultry sector from the spread of the virus, which poses significant health risks both to poultry industries and potentially to human populations.
Under DA Memorandum Order No. 04, the importation of poultry products such as eggs, semen for artificial insemination, day-old chicks, and live birds from the region has been suspended. The Bureau of Animal Industry has been directed to halt the processing of import permits for these goods. Furthermore, veterinary officers have been ordered to confiscate any poultry products from South Dakota, except for those already in transit before the ban.
While the ban exempts heat-treated poultry and products slaughtered before November 13, 2024, it underscores the ongoing concerns over the potential public health risks of bird flu. The Philippines imported 145.7 million kg of chicken from the U.S. in 2024, a significant portion of its poultry supply, but the exact volume from South Dakota remains unknown.
The DA’s swift action reflects the growing global concern over avian influenza outbreaks, which could affect both public health and the agricultural economy. Retail prices for chicken in the Philippines have fluctuated between P170 to P240 per kg, as the local market braces for potential supply disruptions.
