Philippines Resumes Poultry Imports from Iowa and Minnesota

The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has announced the removal of its previous importation ban on domestic and wild birds from the U.S. states of Iowa and Minnesota, effective immediately. This decision comes after the ban’s initial imposition last year due to avian influenza outbreaks in these regions.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. confirmed that the ban’s lift was in response to the U.S. veterinary authorities’ successful report to the World Organization of Animal Health, declaring the complete eradication of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in all affected areas since January 10, 2024.

The Philippines, relying heavily on the U.S. for its poultry supply, had faced significant disruptions due to this ban. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service noted that in 2023, the U.S. exported $180.5 million worth of poultry meat and products, not including eggs, to the Philippines.

This move to lift the ban indicates a normalization of trade relations between the Philippines and the U.S. in the poultry sector, potentially stabilizing market conditions and supply chains affected by the previous restriction.