MANILA — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has formalized its regionalization arrangement with the United Kingdom for High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI), allowing continued trade of poultry products from certified disease-free areas despite ongoing outbreaks in other parts of the country.

The policy, issued through Department Circular No. 17, builds on measures already in place since 2024 and strengthens bilateral recognition of HPAI-free zones between the Philippines and the UK. It ensures that trade from designated areas remains uninterrupted.

Following an evaluation by the Bureau of Animal Industry, the UK was found to have strong veterinary oversight and effective disease control measures, resulting in a low risk of importing infected products from approved zones.

The circular covers imports of live birds—including poultry and non-poultry species—as well as day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and poultry meat, provided these originate from UK areas certified free from HPAI.

At the center of the policy is “regionalization,” a risk-based system that allows trade to continue from specific disease-free areas within a country, even when outbreaks are reported elsewhere.

This approach enables the Philippines to maintain access to poultry supplies from unaffected regions in the UK instead of imposing a nationwide import ban, which authorities said supports more stable food supply chains.

The measure also aligns with DA Administrative Circular No. 09, series of 2025, which provides guidelines for recognizing disease-free zones in trading partner countries. It likewise builds on the UK’s existing accreditation to export poultry products to the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the policy balances supply stability with health safeguards.

“Regionalization gives us flexibility in sourcing food while maintaining strict safeguards,” Tiu Laurel said. “This strengthens food security by ensuring a steady and safe supply of poultry products for Filipino consumers, even when animal disease outbreaks occur abroad.”

All imports will remain subject to existing import conditions and DA regulations on animal health and food safety.

The circular will take effect 15 days after its publication on the DA’s official website and filing with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center in Diliman, Quezon City.