By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
On Monday, May 19, the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) assured Filipinos that there will be no issue with the supply of chicken meat despite its plan to impose an import ban on poultry products from Brazil.
The looming country-wide ban is expected as Brazil, the Philippines’ and the world’s largest chicken exporter, reported the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu from a commercial farm in the town of Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul.
In a Palace press briefing, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said there are other countries which can serve as alternative sources when the import ban takes effect.
“Yes, we will have to ban the whole country from exporting chicken to us. But, of course, hindi lang naman Brazil ang nagsu-supply sa Pilipinas,” Secretary Tiu-Laurel said.
“As far as supply is concerned, I really don’t see any issue, baka may brief supply gap lang na baka one or two weeks, because they have to change origins. But in general, I don’t see any issue, because even our local poultry industry medyo maganda ang production,” he added.
However, there will be minimal price adjustments with the impending import ban.
“Ang advantage lang ng Brazil, kaya malakas sila, dahil sila ang pinakamura. So, baka mas makabili lang tayo ng, iyong mga importers o processors, na mas mahal na kaunti pero I think the price difference is only a few [percent],” the Agriculture chief added.
As of February, 44.15 million kilograms of chicken have been imported from Brazil, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
Other countries of origin for poultry imports for the said month include Belgium, Canada, Chile, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In terms of production, the country logged 550,499 metric tons (MT) of local chicken production during the first quarter of 2025, which is higher than 506,277 MT logged for the same period in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Safe for consumption
The BAI, meanwhile, maintained that the country’s poultry products are safe for consumption amid the stringent measures against the spread of HPAI.
“The Bureau of Animal Industry assures the public that poultry products, including chicken meat and table eggs, remain safe for human consumption despite the previously reported case of avian influenza in Camarines Sur,” it said in a separate statement.
The agency reminded the public to ensure that there is a “meat inspection certificate” in local markets.
On April 30, the BAI logged the country’s first detection of HPAI Type A Subtype H5N9 among duck samples in Camaligan, Camarines Sur.
The BAI assured the proper quarantine, depopulation, disposal and disinfection, followed by the conduct of surveillance within its one kilometer radius on May 9.
“All collected samples tested negative for Influenza Type A, thereby confirming that the outbreak has been contained and resolved,” the BAI said.
As of May 16, the BAI said only a single village in Mexico, Pampanga has ongoing cases of bird flu H5N1 strain among ducks. (PNA)
