June 11, 2026

 

Philippines resumes poultry products from Argentina

 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has resumed poultry imports from Argentina, one of the country's sources of imported meat, as the South American country is bird flu-free.

 

The DA issued Department Circular No. 29 lifting the temporary ban on importing domestic and wild birds and their products from Argentina, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen.

 

The DA lifted the import ban after Argentina reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that it had resolved all avian influenza cases and recorded no new outbreaks.

 

"In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 10.4 of the WOAH terrestrial Animal Health Code, Argentina is now free from HPAI (high pathogenicity avian influenza)," the DA circular read.

 

According to the agency, the risk of contamination from sourcing poultry from Argentina "is negligible."

 

"Nonetheless, all import transactions of the above commodities slaughtered/produced after the issuance of this circular may commence again in accordance with existing rules and regulations of the (DA)," it added.

 

The DA suspended poultry imports from Argentina in March this year following an outbreak of untyped or partially typed HPAI in General Paz, Buenos Aires affecting domestic birds.

 

"There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population," the DA said in Department Circular No. 13 that ordered the import ban.

 

Existing laws and regulations authorise the DA to enforce import restrictions to prevent the entry of animals, animal byproducts, parts, and products from countries with dangerous communicable animal diseases.

 

Argentina exported 6.67 million kilogrammes of meat to the Philippines from January to April, accounting for 1.2% of total imports, mainly beef, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry. South American country primarily supplied beef during the period.

 

- Inquirer