The Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned imports of poultry and other poultry products, including wild birds, from Belgium and France after two European countries each reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Forbidden. (HPAI) in poultry.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the import ban imposed on neighboring European countries is necessary to prevent the possible introduction of the HPAI-H5N1 virus into the Philippines. “H5N1 is a virus that can be transmitted from infected animals to humans, so we are doing this to protect the health of local poultry populations as well as poultry workers and consumers.” he said.
Belgium and France, which share a border, reported outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic birds to WOAH at about the same time. Belgium submitted its report on December 1, 2023, and France on November 30, 2023.
The imposition of the ban by the DA will result in an immediate halt to the acquisition of both domestic and wild birds from Belgium and France. The indefinite import ban will also prohibit traders from bringing Belgian and French poultry products into the Philippines, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and poultry semen, starting January 8, 2024. .
For meat imports already in transit, loaded or received before the ban, the poultry was slaughtered or the product was produced on November 12, 2023 for France and November 16, 2023 for Belgium. If it was previously produced, it will still be allowed to enter the country. . With the exception of heat-treated products, all imported goods after the above dates will not be considered upon arrival in the country.
According to the data, total poultry meat imports in the Philippines in 2022 increased by 1.57 percent compared to 2021 to 411,070 tonnes, valued at US$468,455,990. Belgium accounts for 2.60 percent of the total arrivals, while no imports from France are recorded.
In 2023, the Philippines’ poultry meat imports amounted to 426,620 tons with a value of US$418,130,353, an increase of 3.78 percent compared to 2022. France and Belgium account for 0.01% and 0.59% of total imports, respectively.
The DA said the import ban will continue unless revoked by the authorities. PR