PH lifts import ban on Dutch poultry products
The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has lifted the ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from the Netherlands.
In a statement on Friday, the DA Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order 31 lifting the importation ban, 'following the World Organization for Animal Health declaration that the Netherlands is now free from avian influenza.'
Moreover, no new outbreaks have been reported by the European country since May 16, 2025.
The DA's import ban—which also covered poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen—was imposed in December last year after Dutch veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of H5 (N untyped) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on November 17, 2024 in Putten, Gelderland, affecting domestic birds.
'Based on the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,' Tiu Laurel said in his memorandum.
The DA said the order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force unless formally revoked, adding that 'all conflicting directives are considered rescinded.'
The Agriculture Department added that it was directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to diversify the country's meat and protein sources to safeguard food security amid rising global and domestic animal health threats. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
PH lifts import ban on Dutch poultry products
The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has lifted the ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from the Netherlands. In a statement on Friday, the DA Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Memorandum Order 31 lifting the importation ban, 'following the World Organization for Animal Health declaration that the Netherlands is now free from avian influenza.' Moreover, no new outbreaks have been reported by the European country since May 16, 2025. The DA's import ban—which also covered poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen—was imposed in December last year after Dutch veterinary authorities confirmed an outbreak of H5 (N untyped) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on November 17, 2024 in Putten, Gelderland, affecting domestic birds. 'Based on the evaluation of the Department of Agriculture, the risk of contamination from importing live poultry, poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen is negligible,' Tiu Laurel said in his memorandum. The DA said the order takes effect immediately and shall remain in force unless formally revoked, adding that 'all conflicting directives are considered rescinded.' The Agriculture Department added that it was directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to diversify the country's meat and protein sources to safeguard food security amid rising global and domestic animal health threats. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
Smuggled onions in Paco market tested positive for E.coli —DA
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday warned the public against buying smuggled or illegally imported onions after samples collected last week from the Paco Public Market in Manila tested positive for E. coli bacteria. 'This is a food safety issue and a clear threat to public health,' Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement. 'We will order the confiscation of those onions as required under the Food Safety Act of 2013,' he added. Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said he has formally informed the Manila local government unit about the test results from the Paco market samples, which indicated possible fecal contamination and poor sanitation in the handling and processing of the red onions. According to Mayo Clinic, E. coli can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms may appear three or four days after exposure to the bacteria. 'To protect the public and consumers from food-borne illnesses and unsanitary conditions, we recommend the confiscation of the said commodities,' Panganiban wrote in his letter to the Manila LGU. The DA has not issued any permits for onion imports, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to safeguard local farmers, who have just completed their harvest. Tiu Laurel also instructed the BPI and other DA units monitoring public markets to be on alert for suspected smuggled onions and to immediately submit any samples for testing. Last week, Tiu Laurel asked the assistance of the Philippine National Police in gathering intelligence to apprehend onion smugglers. Meanwhile, a separate shipment of 25 metric tons of red onions, intercepted by the BPI and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental, will also be tested for contaminants—including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and harmful bacteria. The DA will ask the BOC to turn them over for government redistribution if they are determined to be safe for consumption. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- GMA Network
PAOCC suspends ops due to disease outbreak in overcrowded POGO detention facility
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Thursday expressed concern over the spread of contagious diseases among the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers in its custody, forcing the agency to suspend its operations against their illegal activities. PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said at least 700 former POGO employees remain at their temporary detention center in Pasay City. A recent medical examination revealed 66 tested positive for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis. ''Yang mga workers na po yan…'yung iba po diyan lalo na yung mga nahuli namin, pag pina-pacheck namin may mga sakit,' Cruz said in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (Some of the arrested POGO workers we checked are sick.) 'Itong huling pina-check namin, 66 ang nagpositive sa sakit na HIV, syphilis at hepatitis. Mga nakakahawa po yan,' he added. (In our latest testing, 66 tested positive for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis.) During the last hearing of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Monday, Cruz said more than 9,000 former POGO workers remain at large in the Philippines. 'Pakalat-kalat ang mga yan so hindi natin alam kung ano ang activities nila araw-araw. Baka imbis na ipagamot sila ay nagkakalat pa ng sakit,' said Cruz. (They are at large and we don't know their activities. They may be spreading diseases instead of seeking treatment.) 'Dapat talaga bigyan ito nang mabilis na action at kung kailangan ipa-deport agad, ipa-deport na kaysa makahawa sa mga kababayan natin,' he added. (There should be immediate action against this and if they need to be deported, we should deport them so they would not infect our own citizens.) Meanwhile, Cruz said PAOCC was forced to temporarily suspended its operations due to overcrowding in their detention facility. 'For almost two months, hindi na kami nag ooperate kasi unang-una, ang daming may sakit. Nagkaroon ng mini pandemic sa aming facility na nagkaroon ng lung infection dun,' he said. (We did not operate for two months because a lot of them are sick. There was a mini pandemic of lung infections in the facility.) 'We needed to stop yung pagda dagdag ng tao at gamutin muna namin itong may mga sakit. So far medyo nakaka-recover na yung iba. Baka later, bumalik na kami sa dating operations namin,' he added. (We needed to stop adding people and first focus on treating those who are ill. Some have recovered. Maybe later, we can resume our normal operations.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
