Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced the lifting of a temporary ban on the importation of domestic birds, wild birds, and poultry products from France. This decision came after Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order No. 13, which lifts the import ban following the resolution of all cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu in France.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) conducted an assessment and careful review of the situation in France, concluding that the containment of the disease was successful. The DA stated in a statement that this decision was based on the findings of the BAI, and that no further outbreaks had been reported in France since February 4, according to the official report of the French veterinary authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

As a result, the Philippines can now allow the entry of poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from France. Despite this, Tiu Laurel emphasized that the DA will continue to maintain stringent monitoring and implement temporary import bans from countries currently experiencing bird flu outbreaks. These include states such as Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Maryland, Missouri, and South Dakota in the United States, as well as regions like East Otago, Waitaki, and Canterbury in New Zealand.