July 12, 2022
The Philippines introduces new measures to address rising poultry prices
The Philippines Department of Agriculture has introduced new measures such as permitting inter-island movement for poultry and special import permits for new vaccines, to address rising poultry prices in the country, GMA news reported.
Chicken prices in the Philippines have gone up due to higher demand for chicken and low production. Chicken prices are currently at PHP 200 per kg as of early June.
Through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Department of Agriculture has permitted inter-island movement from mainland Luzon of day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and ready-to-lay pullets.
The department said movement will be permitted if day-old chicks and hatching eggs test negative for bird flu 28 days from the date of sample collection.
Transport for ready-to-lay pullets will be allowed if they test negative for bird flu 14 days from the date of sample collection.
In addition, the Department of Agriculture said that the BAI establishes the actual supply scenario by closely collaborating with associates from the private sector and routinely validating the broiler life cycle model.
Reildrin Morales, the BAI officer in charge and director, announced that Department of Agriculture executives would be speaking with other nations about potential alternate sources of less expensive feed ingredients in an effort to address the high cost of agricultural inputs.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the BAI has already granted special import permits for necessary vaccines to support disease prevention against additional poultry diseases like Infectious Body Hepatitis (IBH).
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture has already lifted the temporary ban on poultry products from the Czech Republic, Spain, and Denmark.
Morales said that the easing of pandemic restrictions had led to the opening of new markets, including hotels and restaurants, which contributed to the rise in demand.
He said the BAI has also noticed a drop in production due to the high cost of feed inputs and problems with other hepatitis, which may also be linked to the stunted growth of poultry birds.
Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said that increasing the nation's production of key staples, including corn, which is used as both food and animal feed, is a top priority for his administration.
- GMA News