July 4, 2022

Philippines' chicken supply eases with lifting of import ban on poultry products from Belgium

The decision of the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) to lift a temporary import ban on poultry products from Belgium is seen easing chicken supply and price issues in the country.

Former Philippine agriculture secretary William Dar issued a memorandum order on his last day in office lifting the temporary import ban on domestic, wild birds and their products from Belgium. This follows the final report of the country's veterinary authorities to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) which states that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) events are "closed and resolved."

"Based on the evaluation of the DA the risk of contamination from importing poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen is negligible," Dar stated in the memorandum.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) welcomed the decision of the DA to lift the ban. "This will help ease supply and temper price increases of our vital chicken meat materials and mitigate the impact of the fuel cost increases, global supply chain challenges and other issues brought about by the Russia-Ukraine crisis," PAMPI said.

The DA recently lifted temporary bans on poultry imports from Spain, Denmark, and the Czech Republic due also to resolved outbreaks of the avian virus.

- The Philippine Star