THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary import ban on wild and domestic birds from Argentina, Romania, and Turkey, following the containment of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in those regions.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate memorandum orders authorizing the resumption of imports, citing the absence of new outbreaks and official clearance from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
The temporary import ban had been put in place as a precaution to protect the Philippines’ local poultry industry from the spread of bird flu.
The decision to lift the import bans was based on risk assessments conducted by the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said based on BAI’s assessment the risk of contamination from importing poultry meat, live birds, day-old chicks, and poultry semen from Argentina, and Turkey is now considered “negligible.”
Lifting the ban is a move seen as both strategic and necessary. With poultry playing a critical role in ensuring national food security—and contributing significantly to employment and agribusiness—reopening safe import channels is essential for stabilizing supply and keeping prices in check.
Diversifying import sources also buffers the country against future supply shocks, especially as global food chains remain vulnerable to disease outbreaks and geopolitical tensions. The DA’s move underscores a balancing act: protecting local producers while ensuring Filipino consumers continue to have access to affordable, safe, and sufficient poultry products.
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