The Department of Agriculture stalled the release of some 400 imported gamefowl from the United States following reports of an avian influenza outbreak in two US states.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said holding off the release of the fighting cocks is part of the DA’s protocol to ensure that no AI-infected poultry enters the country.
“The BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) acted on information received regarding imported breeding stocks. We had banned importation of birds, including poultry products, due to recent outbreaks of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain (from California and Ohio),” said Tiu Laurel.
BAI issued the standard precautionary measure to prevent potential spread of avian influenza to the multibillion-peso Philippine poultry industry.
The gamebirds from Atlanta, Georgia were brought by a courier on behalf of several Filipino breeders of fighting cocks.
The courier attested to have secured all necessary permits for the shipment, both from BAI and from US authorities and that the birds have tested negative for avian influenza.
“We’re just being extra careful and vigilant in protecting our poultry industry, not to mention the fast-growing gamefowl breeding sector.
The spread of avian influenza from imported birds could immensely damage our poultry sector and could wipe out billions of pesos in investments, endanger thousands of jobs, and potentially undermine our food security,” Tiu Laurel said.
As a further biosecurity measure, the BAI conducted a random sampling of 30 heads to test against AI. Philippine authorities will only release the shipment once the test results prove negative.
In January 2024, the DA banned the importation of domesticated and wild birds, including poultry meat, eggs and other products, from the US two states due to the rapid spread of the H5N1 strain since the first confirmed laboratory tests in November.