The Philippines has officially lifted its temporary ban on importing poultry and bird products from the Netherlands, following encouraging health updates from global authorities.
In a statement released Friday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that the Netherlands has been declared free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), prompting the immediate resumption of imports.
This decision, formalized under Memorandum Order No. 31 signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., allows the entry of live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and poultry semen from the Netherlands.
“Based on our risk assessment, the threat of contamination through imported poultry products is now negligible,” the memorandum stated.
The ban was originally imposed in December 2024, following a confirmed outbreak of H5 (N untyped) HPAI in Putten, Gelderland on November 17, 2024. As a precaution, the DA halted imports from the European nation to safeguard local poultry farms and prevent the spread of the virus.
However, according to WOAH records, the Netherlands has reported no new cases of avian flu since May 16, 2025—a sign that the outbreak has been fully contained.
The lifting of the ban is expected to benefit both local businesses and consumers by providing more options and easing potential supply pressures, especially in the poultry sector.
The DA reaffirmed that it will continue to monitor global developments in avian health and ensure that all imports meet the country’s strict safety standards.
