PH lifts import ban on Australian poultry
In a statement on Wednesday, the DA said it issued Memorandum Order No. 39, lifting the ban on Australian bird and poultry products issued in June last year through Memorandum Order No. 21.
With the latest order, future shipments of the affected commodities from Australia will now proceed, subject to existing regulations and biosecurity requirements.
The import ban was lifted after Australian agriculture authorities and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have confirmed that all reported bird flu cases in the said country had been resolved, with no new outbreaks occurring since June 13, 2025.
With this, under WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Australia is now officially recognized as HPAI?free.
Following thorough assessment, the DA said that the risk of bird flu contamination via Australian poultry imports is negligible.
To recall, the ban was issued following reported outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Poultry goods produced in Australia on or after July 25 will be allowed entry to the Philippines.
'This diversifies our sources of poultry, especially with the expected increase in demand as we head towards the Christmas season,' said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
'This aligns with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of a food-secure Philippines,' he added.
Reopening the Australian market—especially of day-old chicks and poultry meat—could ease supply pressure, stabilize prices, and support local production during transition periods, according to the DA.
The Agriculture Department said that standard import controls, including health certifications, testing, and sanitary protocols, remain in full effect to safeguard domestic poultry industries.
Non?compliance may lead to denial of entry or quarantine.
'The order took effect immediately and applies to all pending and forthcoming import arrangements involving Australian poultry products. The DA will continue to monitor global HPAI developments and may adjust import policies should new risks emerge,' DA said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
DOE's Garin welcomes SC ruling on Malampaya profit share
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin welcomed the Supreme Court ruling that effectively lifted charges against private contractors of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project, as she said this would attract more investors into the country. According to Garin, she is happy that the issue has been resolved, after the High Court ruled that the Philippine government's share in profits from the project already includes the income taxes of the contractors. 'It gives stability and security to the exploration investors natin, so it will encourage more,' she said in an interview with reporters. 'Ako, happy ako na alam na nila because before kasi, hindi nila alam. Ngayon alam na nila, and I think that will bring more investors to the Philippines for exploration,' she added. (I am happy that they already know, because before, they didn't. Now they do, and I think it will bring more investors to the Philippines for exploration.) In a 19-page decision, the SC En Banc reversed and set aside a decision of the Commission on Audit (COA), and lifted the charges imposed against Shell Exploration B.V., PNOC Exploration Corporation, and Chevron Malampaya LLC. The decision, penned by Associated Justice Japar Dimaampao, was promulgated in February and made public in July. The petition stemmed from COA's finding that P53-billion worth of income taxes were deduced from the government's share in the project, and the contractors were liable for the taxes. According to the SC, the government signed a service contract for the project pursuant to Presidential Decree 87 or the Oil Exploration and Development Act, where contractors must remit 60% of the project's net proceeds to the government. The High Court said that under the Presidential Decree, the contractor is liable to pay income tax, but the contractor's income tax forms part of or is counted in the government's 60% share, and that tax assumption is not tax exemption. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
DA to take key role in push to cut red tape for agri, fisheries investments
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to take a central role in the implementation of a joint circular backed by 38 national government agencies that is seen to fast-track strategic investments in agriculture and fisheries, the agency said Sunday. In line with the joint memorandum circular (JMC), a dedicated investment facilitation network (INFA-Net) Unit will be established to ensure the timely evaluation and approval of investment proposals in agribusiness, agricultural mechanization, food security, and rural infrastructure. The INFA-Net Focal Unit will be led by the DA's Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), in coordination with the Policy Research Service (PRS). It is seen to cut red tape and to create a more transparent and investor-friendly climate, which the DA hopes would catalyze investments to modernize farming and fisheries practices, improve productivity, and increase incomes in agricultural communities. 'This initiative doesn't just target investors. It's about uplifting our farmers and fisherfolk, generating rural employment, and ensuring long-term food security for the nation,' DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement released Sunday. This is in line with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 which reinforces the government's push to improve public service efficiency and promote investor confidence. The JMC is a multi-agency effort involving 38 national government offices including the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance (DOF), Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev), and the Interior and Local Government (DILG), along with the Bureau of Customs (BOC). 'This JMC is a significant step forward in our commitment to making it easier for investors to do business in the Philippines' agri-fishery sector,' Tiu Laurel said. 'With improved coordination and more efficient systems in place, we are creating an environment that attracts investment and drives inclusive rural development,' he added. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
DA: Restored NFA regulatory powers will help sustain P20/kg rice
A farmer dries rice on the side of a road during a hot day in Candaba, Pampanga, April 30, 2024. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez The passage of a measure that seeks to restore the regulatory and market intervention functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) will help ensure the sustainability of the Marcos administration's P20 per kilogram of rice program, the Department of Agriculture said Saturday. At a news forum, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa reported that more than 450,000 metric tons of rice are currently in the NFA's inventory, which is equivalent to 9 million sacks or 16% of the total national inventory. De Mesa said the figure is higher than the usual 5% in previous years. He added that the NFA has released 455,000 sacks of rice to purchase more palay or unmilled rice from local farmers. The Agriculture spokesperson called for the passage of the House Bill 1 or the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, which grants the NFA regulatory powers aimed at lowering rice prices and protecting farmers. If passed, a food security emergency need not to be declared for the NFA to take action, and the law should expedite the release of funds for the purchase of rice from farmers, according to a report by Nico Waje on Super Radyo dzBB. ?20/kilo na rice program, kayang itawid hanggang sa susunod na taon, kung pagbabasehan ang kasalukuyang imbentaryo ng @bigas_NFA — DA | via @nicowaje — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) August 2, 2025 In his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said the P20 rice program is expanding nationwide, adding that his campaign promise to bring down prices of the grain staple to this level has already been achieved. The next day, the Agriculture Department said coverage of the P20 per kilogram rice initiative will include middle-class families by 2026. It is currently available to members of vulnerable sectors. Initially launched in the Visayas last April, at least 162 locations across the country have been offering the cheaper subsidized rice, the DA earlier report. The P20-per-kilo rice initiative operates primarily through KADIWA ng Pangulo outlets. The rice is being sourced from NFA stocks, which are procured directly from local farmers. The Agriculture Department said the subsidized rice program not only ensures affordable food staple for consumers, but also helps decongest NFA warehouses. With more available space at the warehouses, the DA said, more palay can be purchased at prices higher than those offered by private traders. Rice, corn harvest Meanwhile, De Mesa also reported that the first semester of rice and corn harvest in the country is doing well. According to previous data, the largest harvest reached 9.2 million metric tons in 2023. It decreased in 2024 amid the effects of El Niño and La Niña. This year, the harvest is expected to rise with better weather conditions. The government's minimum projection for 2025 is 11 million metric tons, as it targets to harvest 20.4 million metric tons. The DA said the target can be reached based on the current production. It added that if good harvest continues, rice imports are also expected to decrease, making the country self-sufficient to rice. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
