Philippines Bans Bird Imports from New Zealand

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds from New Zealand due to an avian influenza outbreak.

In Memorandum Order No. 01, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that tests conducted by New Zealand’s National Animal Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of the H7N6 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds from East Otago, Waitaki, and Canterbury in late November.

New Zealand authorities officially reported the outbreak to the World Organisation for Animal Health, according to a DA press release.

Tiu Laurel emphasized that the ban, which includes eggs, day-old chicks, poultry meat, and bird semen, is critical to preventing the entry of the virus into the Philippines and safeguarding the local poultry population.

The poultry industry, valued in the billions of pesos, supports major investments, generates significant employment, and plays an essential role in the nation’s food security.

As part of the ban, Tiu Laurel ordered the immediate suspension of processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for affected products from New Zealand.

However, shipments that were in transit, loaded, or accepted at ports before the official announcement of the ban will be allowed entry, provided the products were slaughtered or produced before November 9, 2024.

Quarantine authorities have been directed to confiscate poultry products covered under the memorandum.