Gov’t lifts import ban on Brazil poultry products

Metro Manila, Philippines - The government has lifted the temporary import ban on poultry products from Brazil, which has declared itself free from the bird flu virus.

Agriculture spokesperson Arnel de Mesa told reporters on Thursday, July 3, the lifting was “effective immediately.”

“Malaking tulong ‘yan kasi Brazil is one of the main source natin ng mga livestock natin and poultry products,” De Mesa added.

[Translation: It will be a big help because Brazil is one of our main sources of livestock and poultry products.]

De Mesa said the DA is studying the “potential” maximum suggested retail price on imported chicken by September in a bid to “moderate retail prices amid tight domestic meat supply.”

Brazil, the world’ top chicken exporter, reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health on June 18 that reported cases of avian influenza have been resolved, with no additional outbreaks.

On Thursday, the DA also announced the lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of poultry products from six US states, namely, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. US veterinary authorities confirmed outbreaks had been resolved and there were no new cases since June 9.

As of April, over 92 million kilograms of chicken meat was imported from Brazil, which was almost 60 percent of total chicken meat imports. The US imported over 43 million kilograms so far.