Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. issued separate administrative orders ending the bans, which previously halted the entry of domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and semen for artificial insemination from the affected regions.

The lifting of restrictions came after veterinary authorities in Israel and South Dakota reported zero new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) since mid-July to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

“These decisions are based on scientific evidence and international reporting standards to ensure both biosecurity and a stable supply of poultry products,” said Tiu Laurel.

The DA stressed that import bans are a precautionary measure, aimed at protecting the country’s livestock and poultry industries—key pillars of Philippine agriculture that drive rural employment, attract investments, and contribute to food security.

The DA reiterated its commitment to upholding international biosecurity standards while ensuring that Filipino consumers continue to have access to affordable and safe food.

In a news release, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the ban—imposed earlier this year due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)—was lifted after US veterinary authorities confirmed that the outbreaks have been resolved.

The report, submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health, noted that there have been no new cases of bird flu in the affected areas since June 9.

“The lifting of the import ban is based on science and in accordance with international standards,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel. “Our primary concern is protecting the local poultry industry, a vital part of our food security plan and a major contributor to economic activity.”

The resumption of imports is expected to strengthen the country’s poultry supply and help ease price pressures, aligning with efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure food security amid inflation. Rising food costs remain a key driver of inflation in the country.

Also covered by the lifted ban are poultry products such as eggs, day-old chicks, and bird semen used for artificial insemination.

However, Secretary Tiu Laurel said that all incoming shipments must still comply with the DA’s existing veterinary quarantine protocols and food safety regulations. The lifting of the ban will remain in force unless officially revoked in writing.

The policy update reaffirms the DA’s commitment to science-based decision-making and responsible international trade.

The import ban, which also covered poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, was imposed in December after Dutch veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of H5 (N untyped) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on November 17 in Putten, Gelderland, affecting domestic birds.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order 31 lifting the ban, following the World Organization for Animal Health’s declaration that the Netherlands is now free from avian influenza. Additionally, no new outbreaks have been reported since May 16, 2025.

“Based on the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,” according to the memorandum.

The order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force unless formally revoked. All conflicting directives are considered rescinded.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the DA to diversify the country’s meat and protein sources to safeguard food security amid rising global and domestic animal health threats.

The DA initially imposed the ban on May 19 following an outbreak of avian influenza in the South American nation.

In Memorandum Order 35, Secretary Tiu Laurel announced the lifting of the ban—which also covers poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen—after Brazilian veterinary authorities reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that the outbreak had been resolved.

No new cases have been recorded since June 18, he added.

Citing the guidelines of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Secretary Tiu Laurel declared that Brazil is now considered free of avian influenza.

He added that an evaluation conducted by the DA, through the Bureau of Animal Industry, found the risk of contamination from importing poultry and related products from Brazil to be “negligible.”

The order takes effect immediately and will remain in force until further notice.

Brazil is one of the world’s largest poultry exporters, reportedly accounting for a third of global chicken trade.

By resuming imports from Brazil, the DA aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to diversify the country’s sources of imported agricultural products. The move aims to strengthen food security and reduce the risks associated with relying too heavily on a limited number of suppliers. 

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.

The temporary ban was imposed in February, following reports of FMD cases among domestic buffaloes in Hoppegarten, a town in the Brandenburg region of Germany, according to a DA news release. The outbreak had been formally reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) in January.

While FMD rarely affects humans, it spreads quickly among cloven-hoofed animals and can be deadly for young livestock. An outbreak can cause serious losses in the agriculture sector due to animal deaths, trade restrictions, and culling measures.

In a new directive, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Germany is now recognized as FMD-free under international animal health standards.

The risk of contamination from importing FMD-susceptible animals, their products, and by-products is negligible, Tiu Laurel said in Memorandum Order 29.

The DA said it lifted the ban after German authorities submitted complete technical documents and official certifications proving the country’s clean bill of health.

In 2024, the Philippines imported 3,177.5 metric tons of beef from Germany, representing around 0.5% of total beef imports. Germany had also been a major pork supplier before a separate ban was imposed in 2020 due to African Swine Fever (ASF).

The move is expected to help restore broader livestock trade between the Philippines and Germany.

In a statement from the Embassy of Brazil in Manila, the landmark certification was conferred during the 92nd General Session of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) held in Paris on May 28, 2025.

This positions Brazil as one of the few countries globally to be declared entirely FMD-free without vaccination, a status that significantly enhances its credibility as a safe and reliable exporter of animal products.

The Brazilian government said that this milestone reflects decades of investment in veterinary surveillance, coordinated eradication strategies, and high biosecurity standards by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), state authorities, and the private sector.

The achievement was formally announced in a ceremony attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro.

“With this certification, Brazil consolidates its status as a global leader in animal health management and reinforces its reputation as a safe and reliable supplier of animal products to the international market,” the Embassy of Brazil said.

“This international recognition is also expected to open new opportunities for the diversification of Brazilian beef exports to the Philippines, a rapidly growing market with increasing demand for high-quality animal protein,” it added.

Brazil’s FMD eradication efforts date back over a century, with the last recorded outbreak in 2006. The country transitioned from vaccination-based control to disease-free status without vaccination in phases, starting in 2007 with the state of Santa Catarina. By 2021, key agricultural states like Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul had also achieved the milestone. The 2025 certification now extends to all Brazilian territory.

The recognition is also a testament to Brazil’s model of public-private cooperation and transparent veterinary governance, offering lessons to countries with similar ambitions in animal health and food safety.

For Filipino importers and consumers, this translates to a potential increase in the variety and volume of Brazilian beef exports entering the local market. The embassy noted that the new status could help expand market access for premium beef cuts and processed beef products, giving local businesses more sourcing options and Filipino households better value for money.

Industry stakeholders in the Philippines have long looked to Brazil as a strategic partner in food supply resilience. With this new certification, Filipino businesses may be in a stronger position to negotiate trade terms and diversify their import sources amid rising demand for protein-rich foods and the need to stabilize food prices.

“Brazil is now in an even stronger position to supply a wider range of beef cuts and beef products, supporting the Philippines in its efforts to enhance food security and stabilize domestic food prices. As a trusted and consistent trade partner, Brazil stands ready to contribute to the country’s food supply resilience—and, who knows, make it a little easier for Filipino families to enjoy their favorite bulalo at a fairer price,” the embassy said. Veronica Uy

In two separate news releases, the DA said the measures aim to protect the Philippines’ livestock and poultry industries from potential disease transmission.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the immediate suspension of imports of commodities derived from animals susceptible to FMD following reports of outbreaks in Germany.

The European nation notified the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) on January 10, confirming FMD cases in domestic buffaloes in Hoppegarten, Brandenburg.

FMD is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects cloven-hoofed livestock, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and buffaloes. The disease can have devastating effects on animal health and production, particularly among young livestock.

In 2024, the Philippines imported 3,177.5 metric tons of beef from Germany, contributing approximately 0.5% of the country’s total beef imports. Germany had also been a key pork supplier until a separate ban was imposed in 2020 due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever.

Memorandum Order No. 08, signed on February 10, 2025, enforces the temporary restriction until Germany regains its FMD-free status as certified by WOAH. The order also suspends the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances.

Certain products, however, remain exempt from the ban, including ultra-high temperature milk, heat-treated meat in hermetically sealed containers, protein meal and gelatin, in vivo-derived bovine embryos, and semi-processed leather products.

Additionally, shipments that were already in transit or at ports before the cut-off date of December 26, 2024, are permitted entry.

Ban on poultry products from Maryland and Missouri

Alongside the FMD-related restrictions, the DA has also imposed a temporary ban on imports of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products, from Maryland and Missouri due to multiple outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza.

“The quick escalation of bird flu cases in the U.S. since its first detection demands a more extensive coverage of trade restrictions to prevent the entry of the virus,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.

The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported outbreaks on January 23, confirming bird flu cases across 89 flocks in the two states, affecting a total of 13.2 million birds.

Memorandum Order No. 07, signed on February 4, 2025, enforces the suspension of imports, including poultry meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and poultry semen. The DA has also halted the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for these commodities.

However, exemptions apply to shipments already in transit or those accepted at ports, provided they were slaughtered or produced at least 14 days before the first confirmed outbreak—January 14 for both Maryland and Missouri. Any shipment failing to meet these conditions will either be returned to its country of origin or disposed of.

The DA’s latest restrictions reflect the government’s commitment to safeguarding the local agricultural sector from the risks posed by foreign animal diseases. These bans serve as precautionary measures to mitigate potential economic losses and prevent the spread of highly contagious viruses that could impact food security and livestock-dependent industries.

Both import bans will remain in effect until the affected regions regain disease-free certification from international animal health authorities.