The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds from Belgium following the notification of high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in the country. The move, effective as of 3 April 2025, is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the local poultry industry and maintain strict biosecurity measures.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued the memorandum, saying the outbreaks were confirmed by Belgium’s Sciensano research institute. The initial cases were reported on 20 February 2025 in Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen. In response, Belgium promptly notified the World Organization for Animal Health, prompting the Philippines to act swiftly.
Under Memorandum Order No. 20, Series of 2025, the DA also suspended the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for all poultry products from Belgium, including poultry meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and semen. This ban is a significant step in protecting the Philippine poultry industry from potential contamination, with stringent guidelines for compliance.
The order allows shipments from Belgium that were already in transit prior to the ban—provided they were slaughtered or produced before 3 February 2025—to continue. However, non-compliant shipments will either be returned to Belgium, redirected to a third country, or confiscated and destroyed, with heat-treated products exempt from confiscation.
Belgium’s chicken meat exports to the Philippines totaled 5.25 million kilograms in 2024, accounting for approximately 1.1 percent of the country’s total chicken imports. This ban reflects not only the regulatory focus on public health but also underscores the economic impact of disruptions in the global poultry trade.
The DA’s decision highlights the Philippines’ proactive stance in managing animal diseases and its commitment to protecting local agriculture, while also navigating the complex commercial ties in international food trade.
