ARGENTINA can now resume exporting poultry products to the Philippines following its bird flu-free status, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Department Circular (DC) 29, which allowed the entry of poultry products, including meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from the South American nation.
The DA decided to lift the ban after veterinary officers from Argentina reported zero new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the World Health Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
‘The official report […] has reflected that the reported case of HPAI has ended with resolved status and no additional outbreaks,’ the circular read, adding that Argenina is now free from bird flu.
Citing the agency’s evaluation, the DA noted that the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible.
‘Nonetheless, all import transactions of the above commodities slaughtered- produced after the issuance of this circular may commence again in accordance with existing regulations of the Department of Agriculture.’
The DA issues temporary country-wide import ban as a precautionary measure against transboundary animal diseases such as bird flu and African swine fever (ASF) to shield the country’s livestock and poultry industries.
Both industries are critical to the country’s farm sector, which the DA said drives rural empoloyment and investments while also contributing to food security.
Under the rules, only DA-accredited countries that have secured a regionalization agreement with the Philippines can continue to export animals and their byproducts amid cases of bird flu, subject to certain conditions.
A regionalization agreement means that the Philippines will restrict shipments of the commodity only from certain areas with confirmed bird flu cases instead of imposing a country-wide ban.
The measure ensures a sustained trade of poultry goods, since imposing a temporary ban for the entire country curbs sources of raw materials that could potentially place pressure on prices.
Currently, the Philippines has a regionalization agreement for bird flu with Belgium, United Kingdom, France, the United States, the Netherlands, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Poland. Ada Pelonia