September 19, 2025
Philippines temporarily halts poultry imports from Argentina
The Philippine Department of Agriculture has temporarily banned imports of birds and poultry products from Argentina after authorities at the South American country confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).
In a statement, the DA said Memorandum Order 48 signed on Sept. 5 prohibits the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen for artificial insemination from Argentina.
The move followed Argentina’s report to the World Organisation for Animal Health of an outbreak detected in Buenos Aires province on Aug. 17.
"We are imposing the import ban because the H5N1 subtype poses a serious riskto both poultry and public health," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr said.
"As directed by President Marcos, the DA must protect not only food security but also public health," he added.
The order also directed the Bureau of Animal Industry to suspend all applications and the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for poultry commodities sourced from Argentina.
Avian influenza remains a costly threat to the local poultry sector, with past outbreaks forcing culling operations that wiped out thousands of birds and cost the industry hundreds of millions of pesos.
As of Sept. 10, the DA said that eight provinces across four regions remain affected by bird flu, even after Camarines Sur was declared avian influenza-free earlier this month.
The DA said it would continue monitoring global developments to guard against the spread of the virus and mitigate risks to local producers and consumers.
According to private market intelligence firm Trading Economics, Philippine imports from Argentina across all goods reached US$417 million in 2024, although poultry makes up only a small fraction of that trade.
Data from the firm also showed that Philippine imports from Argentina included around US$3.25 million worth of meat and edible meat offal, along with US$7.56 million in dairy products, eggs and honey in 2024.
- The Philippine Star
