THE Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has lifted the ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from the Netherlands.
DA Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order 31 lifting the importation ban, “following the World Organization for Animal Health declaration that the Netherlands is now free from avian influenza.”
Moreover, no new outbreaks have been reported by the European country since May 16, 2025.
The DA’s import ban — which also covered poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen — was imposed in December last year after Dutch veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of H5 (N untyped) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on November 17, 2024 in Putten, Gelderland, affecting domestic birds.
“Based on the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,” Tiu Laurel said in his memorandum.
The DA said the order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force unless formally revoked, adding that “all conflicting directives are considered rescinded.”
The Agriculture department added that it was directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to diversify the country’s meat and protein sources to safeguard food security amid rising global and domestic animal health threats.
Source - https://www.panaynews.net
