PH bans importation of poultry from Belgium, France due to bird flu outbreak

The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has banned the importation of poultry and other poultry products from Belgium and France amid the outbreak of bird flu in the said European nations.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DA said the ban was issued following Belgium and France reporting of their respective outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in domestic birds to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

The agency said Belgium and France, which share a border, almost simultaneously reported the bird flu outbreak in domestic birds to the WOAH.

Belgium submitted its report on December 1, 2023, while France submitted it on November 30, 2023.

The Agriculture Department said the prohibition of poultry and poultry products from the neighboring European countries were necessary to prevent the possible entry of HPAI-H5N1 into the Philippines.

“We’re doing this to protect the health of our local poultry population as well as poultry workers and consumers since H5N1 is a virus that can be transmitted to humans by infected animals,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.

The ban covers the acquisition of both domesticated and wild birds as well as poultry products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and poultry semen from the two countries starting January 8, 2024.

The DA clarified that meat imports already in transit, loaded or accepted before the ban will still be allowed to enter the country if the poultry were slaughtered or the products were produced on or before November 12, 2023 in the case of France, and November 16, 2023 for Belgium.

All imports after the above-mentioned dates will not be considered upon arrival in the country, except for heat-treated products, it said.

Data from the DA showed that in 2022, the Philippines’ total importation of poultry meat increased by 1.57% compared to 2021, with 411,070 metric tons valued at $468,455,990.

Belgium accounts for 2.60% of the overall arrivals, while no importation was recorded from France.

In 2023, Philippine importation of poultry meat reached 426,620 metric tons valued at $418,130,353, up 3.78% from 2023.

France and Belgium accounted for 0.01% and 0.59% respectively of total imports.

The DA said the import bans will continue unless revoked by the agency. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News