Philippines halts bird imports from Belgium over avian flu concerns

The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to p

The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to prevent the virus from entering the country.

The import restriction also applies to poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and bird semen. However, shipments already in transit or accepted at Philippine ports before the official notice will be allowed entry, provided the birds or products were processed before February 3.

Any shipments that do not meet these conditions will be denied entry and either returned to Belgium, redirected to another country, or destroyed. Veterinary quarantine officers have been instructed to confiscate all non-compliant goods unless they are heat-treated, which renders them safe for import.

Belgian authorities reported the outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health in February, confirming the presence of the H5N1 strain among domestic birds in the Oost-Vlaanderen region.

Copied