The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban of poultry products from Belgium.
Under DA memorandum order 44 – 2023 signed by senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, the decision followed Belgium presenting proof of eradicating the bird flu epidemic.
The memorandum specifically allows the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Belgium consistent with rules imposed by the DA.
Prior to the lifting, the DA issued a temporary ban of poultry products from Belgium in February after the Animal and Plant Health Policy by Federal Public Service – Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment in Brussels notified the World Organization for Animal Health on January 26 of an outbreak of H5N1 high pathogenic avian influenza in Wervik, West-Vlaanderen affecting domestic birds.
Based on data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, Belgium in 2022 supplied the Philippines with 10.68 million kilos of chicken, equivalent to 2.6 percent of the 411.07 million-kilo total chicken imports that year.
DA monitoring of public markets as of Monday show the retail price of whole dressed chicken ranges from P165 to P200 per kilo.
