DA lifts ban on Belgium poultry products

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the import ban on poultry products from Belgium.

This developed after Philippine veterinary authorities concluded that the European nation had established sufficient safeguards against High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza.

The DA issued a department circular, which recognized Belgium’s protocols on bird flu, allowing the resumption of imports of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from bilaterally recognized free zones.

The move widens the DA’s options in stabilizing local poultry supply and strengthening food security amid inflationary pressures.

The government suspended the importation of Belgian poultry products last year following concerns over avian influenza outbreaks.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has completed a review of Belgium’s disease-control measures and veterinary oversight systems.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the decision reflects the government’s “science-based and risk-calibrated” approach to protecting both consumers and the domestic poultry industry.

“Our priority remains safeguarding Philippine agriculture, while ensuring stable and affordable food supply for Filipino consumers,” he said.

The recognition of Belgium’s regionalization measures demonstrates that disease management can be approached with precision rather than blanket restrictions, according to Tiu Laurel.

“We are opening trade only after rigorous technical evaluation confirmed that the identified zones maintain strong veterinary controls and present negligible risk to local poultry health,” he said.

Tiu Laurel noted that the move would help secure supply chains for poultry products and breeding materials without compromising biosecurity standards.