PH lifts birds, poultry import ban from France

The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has lifted the ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds as well as poultry products from France.

The lifting of the import ban was pursuant to Memorandum Order No. 13, issued by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the DA said in a news release on Thursday.

This came after French veterinary authorities reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) that all reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have ended with resolved status and that there were no additional outbreaks after February 4, 2025.

“This decision comes after an assessment by the DA’s Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and careful review of the situation in France, where the disease's containment appears to have been successful,” the Agriculture Department said.

In September last year, the DA ordered a temporary ban on the importation of birds and poultry products from France amid another avian flu outbreak in the European country.

The agency said the outbreak in France prompted the DA to impose strict restrictions on French poultry imports, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen.

“The lifting of the ban is expected to ease trade tensions and support the poultry industry, which has been adversely impacted by the restrictions,” it said.

“However, the DA has emphasized the continued monitoring of all incoming shipments, with strict quarantine protocols to ensure the country's biosecurity remains uncompromised,” it added. --VAL, GMA Integrated News