The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from Belgium, following confirmation that the recent avian flu outbreak in the European country has been fully contained.
The restriction, originally imposed due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen on February 17, was a precautionary measure aimed at protecting local poultry industries from potential viral transmission, the DA said in a media release.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in Memorandum Order 30 that the lifting of the import ban comes after Belgian veterinary authorities formally declared the outbreak resolved, with no new bird flu cases reported after February 28.
The certification from Belgium, he noted, complies with the guidelines set by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
“Belgium is now free from HPAI and the risk of contamination from importing domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,” he said.
The DA’s decision allows the resumption of trade with one of Europe’s key poultry producers, restoring a reliable supply line for the Philippines while maintaining strict biosecurity standards.
The import ban was initially imposed to protect the poultry industry, which plays a critical role in the country’s food security, job creation, and investment generation within the agricultural sector.
