The Department of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned imports of domestic and wild birds, plus all poultry products, from Japan and Austria due to recent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks.
In orders issued Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move protects local poultry, a key industry for jobs and food security. Japan reported an H5 subtype outbreak in Hokkaido in October 2024; Austria confirmed H5N1 in Oberosterreich the same month.
The Bureau of Animal Industry will stop issuing import clearances for poultry meat, chicks, eggs, and related products.
