The Department of Agriculture (DA) has enforced a ban on poultry imports from Belgium and France in response to reported avian virus cases, particularly the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., emphasized in a statement yesterday that the move is crucial to prevent the potential transmission of H5N1 to the Philippines’ local poultry population, as well as to safeguard the health of poultry workers and consumers.

Citing reports submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Belgium submitted its report on December 1, 2023, while France submitted theirs on November 30, 2023.

Effective immediately, the ban covers both domesticated and wild bird imports from Belgium and France. It also restricts the importation of various poultry products, including meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and poultry semen, starting January 8.

For poultry meat already in transit or accepted before the ban, entry will be allowed if the poultry was slaughtered or the products were produced on or before November 12, 2023 (France) and November 16, 2023 (Belgium), excluding heat-treated products.

The DA had previously implemented a ban on French poultry imports in March 2021, lifted only in September of the same year.