April 24, 2023

The Philippines bans poultry imports from Chile

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has banned imports of chicken and other poultry products from Chile due to the bird flu outbreak in the South American country, The Philippine Star reported.

Memorandum Order 29 was signed by Domingo Panganiban, Philippines' Agriculture Senior Undersecretary, banning imports of domestic and wild birds from Chile, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen.

According to Panganiban, on March 10, 2023, an outbreak of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in Chile at Rubiana 1, Comuna de Rancagua.

He ordered the confiscation of all shipments of the forbidden poultry products in addition to the immediate suspension of the processing and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for the affected commodities.

Information from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed that from January to March 31 of this year, the Philippines imported at least 2.9 kg of chicken from Chile.

Panganiban cautioned against the use of unlicensed avian influenza vaccines, adding that doing so could increase the risk of virus mutation and further disease spread.

He said the adoption of targeted vaccination as a complementary tool to control avian influenza is still undergoing technical review by the country's Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture.

-      The Philippine Star