Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from the Netherlands. This decision marks a significant step for the poultry trade between the two regions.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DA announced that the decision was made following the declaration by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that the Netherlands is now free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The announcement was made through a statement issued on Friday.

The lifting of the ban is detailed in Memorandum Order No. 31, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The memorandum specifies that the ban's removal takes effect immediately. 'Based on the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,' the order stated.

The Netherlands had not recorded any new outbreaks of bird flu since May 16, according to reports from WOAH. This development comes after the DA imposed the import ban in December 2024. The ban was a response to the confirmation by Dutch authorities of an outbreak of H5 (N untyped) HPAI in Putten, Gelderland, on November 17, 2024.