Philippines temporarily bans New Zealand bird imports over avian flu outbreak

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines won’t be importing domestic and wild birds from New Zealand in the meantime due to a bird flu outbreak, the government announced on Wednesday, January 8.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued Memorandum Order No. 1 to impose a temporary ban on New Zealand-based poultry and its byproducts.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. received reports from the New Zealand National Animal Health Laboratory confirming the avian influenza outbreak. 

The laboratory discovered that the domestic birds from East Otago, Waitaki and Canterbury tested positive for the H7N6 strain of “high pathogenicity avian influenza” in late November 2024. 

The DA said the World Organization for Animal Health has been officially informed by New Zealand authorities of the bird flu outbreak. 

The avian flu rarely affects humans, according to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A person can become infected with the virus if it enters the eyes, nose or mouth, or if it is inhaled.

Symptoms may include eye redness, mild flu-like upper respiratory issues, fever, cough, sore throat and a runny nose.

What products are banned? Aside from domestic and wild birds, the importation of day-old chicks, eggs, semen and poultry meat have also been temporarily banned. 

The order also mandates the immediate suspension of processing, evaluating and issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for these specific products from New Zealand, the DA said.

“However, shipments already in transit, loaded, or accepted at ports before the official communication of the ban will be allowed entry, provided the products were slaughtered or produced before November 9, 2024,” the agency added.

Tiu Laurel said the ban allows the country to prevent the spread of bird flu in the country, “safeguarding the health of the local poultry population.” 

The temporary ban is not just a health measure but also a step toward safeguarding food and economic security, the DA stressed. The poultry and egg industry, which is a “multi-billion-peso sector,” contributes significantly to investments and job creation in the country.

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