The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary ban on poultry imports from six countries previously affected by avian influenza.
In a series of memorandum orders signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the Philippines will now allow the importation of live domestic and wild birds from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Malaysia’s Kelantan and Sabah.
The ban had been imposed due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), but the DA confirmed that all reported cases have been resolved, with no new outbreaks. The Bureau of Animal Industry assessed the risk of importing from these areas as negligible.
The lifted ban covers live birds for pet or zoo purposes, with imports subject to existing sanitary and phytosanitary regulations. The DA emphasized that all transactions must comply with current rules as part of efforts to stabilize supply and support economic growth.
