The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban imposed on the importation of wild and domestic birds, including poultry products, from Japan .
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order No. 31 that would allow resumption of day-old-chicks and hatching eggs importation from Japan.
Japan earlier reported to the World Organization for Animal Health that earlier cases of the high pathogenicity avian influenza had been resolved and that no additional cases have been reported since June 2, 2024.
Japan first reported cases of the H5N1 subtype of the bird flu virus last November.
“Based on the evaluation of the DA, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen is negligible,” Tiu Laurel said in the order.
Based on data from the Bureau of Animal Industry, Japan is among the country’s suppliers of imported meat.
However, since last year, Japan has not supplied chicken meat to the Philippines.
