DA lifts ban on beef, poultry products from Germany, Belgium

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted import bans on meat commodities from Germany and poultry items from Belgium.

The move comes following reports that the diseases affecting the livestock from both countries have been contained.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced the lifting of the bans in separate statements on Thursday.

Based on the memorandum order no. 29, the restrictions on the importation of animal-based products from Germany have been removed after the European nation was declared free of foot-and-mouth diseases (FMD).

FMDs are contagious viral diseases affecting cattle, swine and other cloven-hoofed animals.

“The risk of contamination from importing FMD-susceptible animals, their products and by-products 'is negligible.'" Tiu Laurel reported.

Meanwhile, according to the memorandum order no. 30, the department reopened the importations of wild and domestic birds and poultry products from Belgium.

This action comes after the containment of the recent outbreak of bird-flu virus in Belgium has been confirmed.

“Belgium is now free from HPAI and the risk of contamination from importing domestic and wild birds and their products – including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen – is negligible,” the agriculture secretary said.

The disease is caused by a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus.

The last recorded new cases were on February 28.

READ: DA bans poultry products from France, Belgium due to avian flu cases

According to Tiu Laurel, the European countries presented the necessary documentation and certifications in accordance with the guidelines of the World Organization for Animal Health.

These papers served as the bases for ordering the cancellation of the restrictions.

Meanwhile, the DA noted the reports from the Bureau of Animal Industry in 2024 stating that more than 3 million kilograms of imported beef in the Philippines came from Germany.

This volume comprised 0.5 percent of all beef imports last year.

Meat imports

In February this year, the DA halted the issuance of import clearance for FMD-susceptible animal products from Germany to prevent the entry of the livestock disease into the Philippines.

READ: DA bans foot-and-mouth disease susceptible animals from Germany. 

In the same month, an indefinite ban on imported wild and domestic bird products from Belgium was also ordered by the department.

The directive came after the outbreak of HPAI was reported in Sint-Niklaas, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

The new announcements by the agriculture department will resume the livestock trades of the Philippines with Germany and Belgium. —Nelson Jr. Caparas, INQUIRER.net trainee /apl

(2025/06/13-17:01)