DA lifts import ban on Argentina poultry

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June 9, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture has lifted the temporary ban on imported poultry products from Argentina.

This comes after Argentinian authorities resolved the outbreak of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu.

Department Circular 29, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on June 1, now allows the importation of live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Argentina.

All reported outbreaks of bird flu in the country have been resolved and no additional cases have been reported, the agency said, citing a report from Argentina’s veterinary authorities and the World Organization for Animal Health.

The circular stated that DA authorities had evaluated the outbreak in the South American nation and that any contamination of imported products are negligible.

The DA added that all import transactions of poultry and its by-products from Argentina may now commence in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the agency.

Department Circular 13 issued on March 6, temporarily imposed a ban on Argentinian poultry following a reported outbreak of HPAI in Buenos Aires on Feb. 9, affecting its domestic birds.

The DA had mandated that all imports of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the South American country be suspended.

It also ceased all issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance, while all approved SPS clearances were revoked.

The agency, however, allowed the entry of poultry and its by-products from Argentina, provided that they were slaughtered or produced on or before Feb. 5.

The agriculture chief said that the ban was meant to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population.

The Philippines has imported1.96 million kilos of chicken meat as of April 30, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.