The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary ban on poultry imports from the US states of Illinois and Wisconsin, allowing chicken products from these areas to enter the Philippines again. However, imports from Kansas remain suspended due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. approved the move after updated reports showed that avian influenza cases in Illinois and Wisconsin had been contained and were no longer spreading across several counties. Under a 2016 animal health agreement between the Philippines and the US, a statewide ban is imposed only if three or more counties are affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
With the risk lowered, the DA said imports of poultry meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and poultry semen from Illinois and Wisconsin may resume, subject to existing safety rules.
In contrast, Kansas remains under a strict ban after US authorities confirmed multiple H5N1 outbreaks in several counties, exceeding the agreed threshold. The DA said the virus was spreading rapidly in the state, prompting continued restrictions to protect the local poultry industry and public health.
The DA said this selective lifting reflects a “risk-based approach,” reopening trade where disease threats have eased while keeping safeguards in place where outbreaks persist.
For consumers, the decision could help stabilize chicken supply and prices. Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) show the Philippines imported 540.52 million kilograms of chicken in 2025, with 201.42 million kilograms — or 37.3 percent — coming from the US. While there is no breakdown by state, the reopening of Illinois and Wisconsin restores part of that supply.
As of Sunday, the prevailing retail price of whole dressed chicken in public markets was P200 per kilo. Officials said ensuring steady imports while protecting the local industry remains key to maintaining food security and keeping prices stable.
