DA Implements Block Poultry Imports from California, Ohio Restricted

• The Department of Agriculture (DA) has implemented a ban on poultry imports from California and Ohio in response to a recent outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
• Last November, the Veterinary Services of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) detected the virus in two areas in the US.
• Poultry imports processed before January 15 are exempt from the ban, as long as they were slaughtered 14 days before the outbreak.
• The Philippines may still receive poultry imports from other US states.

In response to the recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in certain areas of the United States, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has implemented a ban on the importation of poultry meat from California and Ohio.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. announced on Wednesday, Jan. 17, that the Department of Agriculture has implemented a ban on the importation of domesticated and wild birds, including poultry meat, eggs, and other bird products, from two states in the US. According to Laurel, the trade restriction was deemed necessary in order to prevent the rapid spread of the HPAI H5N1 strain.

“Expanding trade restrictions is crucial to prevent the entry of the HPAI virus and safeguard the health of the local population,” he stated. Last November, the US Veterinary Services reported the H5N1 cases in the two states to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

The Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines has agreed to implement a state-wide ban on HPAI outbreaks in the US. The ban will only be imposed when three or more counties in an affected state report an outbreak.

In a recent development, the agriculture chief has taken decisive action by ordering the immediate suspension of processing, evaluation of application, and issuance of the Sanitary Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) for the banned US poultry.

Excluding shipments that were already in transit, loaded, and/or accepted at Philippine ports before the ban. According to Laurel, poultry imports that were processed before January 15 may be permitted in the country, as long as they were slaughtered at least 14 days prior to the outbreak.

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The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that any poultry and poultry products imported from California and Ohio after November 14, 2023, and November 21, 2023, respectively, will either be seized and destroyed or returned to their country of origin.

In a recent development, it has been revealed that certain US states are exempt from the ban and are still permitted to import poultry products to the Philippines. In the previous year, the country imported a total of 166,356 metric tons of poultry from the US, which amounted to a staggering $175.78 million.

The United States has secured the second spot as a major supplier of poultry to the Philippines, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the total imports. The shipments from the US amounted to 426,620 metric tons.