Philippines Bans Bird Imports from New Zealand Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has imposed a ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, poultry meat, and related products from New Zealand following an outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the country.

Details of the Ban

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 01, which immediately suspends:

• Processing and evaluation of import clearances.
• Issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances for birds, eggs, day-old chicks, semen, and poultry meat.

Shipments already in transit or accepted at ports before the ban’s official communication will be allowed entry only if the products were produced or slaughtered before November 9, 2024.

Quarantine authorities have been directed to confiscate banned poultry commodities upon arrival.

Outbreak in New Zealand

Tests conducted by New Zealand’s National Animal Health Laboratory in November 2024 revealed the presence of the H7N6 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic birds from:

• East Otago
• Waitaki
• Canterbury

The outbreak was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Safeguarding Local Poultry

Secretary Laurel emphasized that the ban is critical to protecting the Philippines’ poultry industry, a multi-billion-peso sector vital to:

• Food security.
• Job creation.
• Investments in agriculture.

“This import ban is crucial in preventing the entry of high pathogenic avian influenza into the Philippines, safeguarding the health of the local poultry population,” Laurel said.

Recent Import Bans

This ban follows similar measures taken by the DA, including prohibitions on bird and poultry imports from The Netherlands due to bird flu outbreaks.

The DA continues to monitor developments to ensure the safety and stability of the country’s poultry supply.