The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban of poultry products from Belgium.
The lifting of the ban via DA Memorandum Order 44 series of 2023 was signed by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban last Friday after Belgium provided evidence that it has contained its bird flu incidence.
The issuance allows the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen originating from Belgium.
Imports, however, must comply with existing importation rules of the DA.
The DA issued the temporary ban of imported poultry products from Belgium last February after the Animal and Plant Health Policy by Federal Public Service – Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment in Brussels notified the World Organization for Animal Health on January 26, that there was an outbreak of H5N1 High Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wervik, West-Vlaanderen affecting domestic birds.
Based on data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, Belgium supplied the Philippines last year with a total of 10.68 million kg. of chicken, equivalent to 2.6 percent of the 411.07 million kg. total chicken imports in 2022.
