The Department of Agriculture said Monday it imposed a temporary ban on the importation of wild and domestic birds from Belgium following an outbreak of bird flu in the European country.
Belgian veterinary authorities earlier reported an outbreak of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaanderen.
The virus, detected among domestic birds, was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health on Feb. 17, 2025.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 20 to prevent the entry of wild and domestic birds, along with poultry products such as meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen, citing the need to protect the local poultry industry from the HPAI virus.
He said the poultry sector is a vital contributor to the country’s food security, employment, and agricultural investments.
Tiu Laurel also ordered the immediate suspension of processing and evaluation of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for poultry products.
Shipments from Belgium that were in transit, loaded or accepted at the port before the official ban may still enter the country, provided they were produced or slaughtered before Feb. 3, 2025.
Non-compliant shipments will be denied entry and either returned to Belgium, rerouted to a third country or destroyed.
Veterinary quarantine officers were instructed to confiscate all such shipments, except those that are heat-treated.