Philippines inks regionalization deal with Chile for poultry imports

MANILA, Philippines — The country approved a bilateral regionalization scheme with Chile, allowing the ease of entry for the latter’s live birds and poultry products.

Agriculture Secretary Franciso Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Department Circular 30 which recognizes the regionalization of Chile, a scheme which no longer imposes a country-wide ban on poultry import during outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will instead allow the importation of live poultry, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Chile in areas free of HPAI cases.

The circular was issued following an evaluation from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), which reported that the South American country had maintained sufficient veterinary oversight and has established necessary control and mitigating measures against HPAI.

Chile had also ensured that all shipments of live poultry, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from the country were low risk in being sourced from HPAI outbreak zones.

Prior to the approval, the Philippines had requested several documentary requirements from Chile’s veterinary authorities to assess its public health control measures applied and implemented against bird flu.

The DA said Chile has 13 accredited foreign meat establishments who are allowed to export meat products like chicken, pork and beef into the country.

The agency added that poultry import transactions must be in accordance with the country’s bilaterally agreed import terms and conditions on regionalization and the DA’s existing rules and regulations.

The South American nation has exported 6.55 million kilos of meat to the country, according to data from the BAI as of May 1.

The DA has been signing regionalization agreements with several countries, like Spain, Germany and Poland, to protect local poultry raisers from animal disease outbreaks.