Philippines Bans Bird Imports from Australia Due to Bird Flu Outbreak

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced a ban on the importation of birds from Australia following confirmed cases of bird flu in the southern nation.

In a statement on Saturday, the DA cited outbreaks of H7N3 and H7N9 avian influenza subtypes, reported by Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The outbreaks were detected on May 23 in Meredith and May 25 in Terang, Victoria. The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed the infections.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. responded to the notification by issuing Memorandum Order No. 21, directing the Bureau of Animal Industry to halt the issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC) for imports from Australia of wild and domestic birds, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen.

“All shipments coming from Australia that are in transit/load/accepted unto port before the official communication of this order to the Australian authorities shall be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered/produced on or before May 9, 2024,” stated Tiu Laurel in the memorandum signed on June 6.

Impact on Imports

As of April 2024, Australia was the Philippines’ fourth-largest source of imported chicken meat, with a total volume of 5,365 metric tons, representing 4% of the total chicken meat imports. Additionally, Australia ranked third in supplying mechanically deboned meat (MDM), contributing 4,162 metric tons or 6.1% of total MDM imports.

During the same period, the Philippines imported 46,987 heads of day-old chicks and 30,780 hatching eggs from Australia.