THE Philippine government has lifted the ban on importing domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products from the State of Minnesota, USA.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the lifting of the trade restriction “follows the resolution of an earlier outbreak of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the state.”
In his Memorandum Order No. 22, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. allowed the entry into the country of live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen originating from Minnesota.
The DA said the ban was initially imposed to safeguard the local poultry industry, which is crucial to the country’s food security and a significant source of employment and investment.
The agriculture department added that the decision to lift the import ban was based on official reports from US veterinary authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health, confirming that all reported cases of HPAI in affected counties of Minnesota have been resolved.
Furthermore, no additional outbreaks have been reported after February 28, it said.
The DA said the US is a major source of poultry products for the Philippines.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has reported that in 2024 it shipped to the Philippines 169,226 metric tons of poultry products, excluding eggs, worth $194.1 million, up from $180.5 million in 2023. (GMA Integrated News)
