MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their by-products from Japan, after the country was officially declared free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The ban, initially imposed in November 2024, included poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen, and was implemented to protect the local poultry industry—one of the pillars of the Marcos administration’s food security program.

In Memorandum Order No. 36, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. cited a report submitted by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), confirming that all HPAI cases had been resolved as of June 13 and that there had been no new outbreaks.

“In accordance with WOAH guidelines and our own risk assessment, we have determined that Japan is bird flu free,” Laurel said, noting that the risk of contamination from imports is now “negligible.”

With the ban lifted, importers may resume poultry shipments from Japan, provided they comply with existing sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and import protocols set by the DA.

The move is expected to boost supply chain stability and give local businesses more flexibility in sourcing poultry products amid tight global commodity markets. The order takes immediate effect and will remain in place unless amended or revoked.