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The Department of Agriculture has imposed a temporary ban on bird and poultry imports from Maryland and Missouri due to bird flu outbreaks
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Under Memorandum Order 07, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. cited the rapid spread of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza as the reason for the restriction
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MO 07 halts importation of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products like meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and semen from the affected US states
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The order also suspends the importation and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances for poultry products from Maryland and Missouri
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on bird and poultry imports from Maryland and Missouri due to bird flu outbreaks.
The rapid spread of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the US has made necessary broader trade restrictions to safeguard local poultry populations, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. said in Memorandum Order 7.
“The quick escalation of bird flu cases in the US since its first detection demands a more extensive coverage of trade restrictions to prevent the entry of the virus,” Laurel said in a statement.
MO 07, signed on February 4, 2025, temporarily halts importation of domestic and wild birds, as well as poultry products like meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and semen from the affected US states. The order also suspends the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for these commodities.
Shipments already in transit or accepted at port will be allowed entry, provided they were slaughtered or produced at least 14 days before the first reported outbreak. Maryland detected its first case on January 14, while Missouri reported its outbreak on the same day.
Shipments failing to meet these conditions will either be returned to the country of origin or disposed of.
On January 23, the Deputy Administrator and Chief Veterinary Officer of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported outbreaks of bird flu in Maryland and Missouri. Testing confirmed that 89 flocks were affected, resulting in a total of 13.2 million birds in confirmed infected premises.
