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Department of Agriculture imposed a temporary ban on poultry imports from the U.S. state of Indiana due to outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza
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The ban covers domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen originating from Indiana
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The decision followed a February 23 report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirming outbreaks in the state
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Laboratory confirmation was conducted by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa
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The move aims to protect the Philippines’ multibillion-peso poultry industry from potential infection
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The ban also suspends the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for covered poultry products
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and related poultry products from the U.S. state of Indiana following confirmed outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in the US state.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the immediate suspension of shipments of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen originating from Indiana, the DA said in a press release.
The import restriction follows a February 23 report issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirming multiple outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain in the Midwestern state.
Laboratory confirmation of the cases was conducted by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
The DA said the rapid spread of the virus across the United States prompted wider trade restrictions to protect the country’s multibillion-peso poultry sector from potential exposure.
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Under a 2016 bilateral animal health agreement between Manila and Washington, the Philippines may impose a state-wide ban if three or more counties in a US state are affected by avian influenza.
Authorities said Indiana has exceeded this threshold based on official reports submitted to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
The import suspension also halts the processing and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSICs) for the covered commodities. Previously approved SPS clearances for live birds have been automatically revoked.
However, shipments that were already in transit, loaded, or accepted at port before the circular’s effectivity may still enter the Philippines, provided the products were slaughtered or produced on or before January 30.
The DA said shipments that fail to meet these conditions will be confiscated or handled in accordance with existing quarantine regulations.
Veterinary quarantine officers in major ports have been instructed to enforce stricter inspection and stoppage protocols to prevent the possible entry of contaminated poultry products into the country.
