The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday announced an indefinite ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including poultry products, from Maryland and Missouri due to bird flu outbreaks.

The ban covers the importation of meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and semen from the affected states.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the rapid spread of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. prompted broader trade restrictions to protect local poultry populations.

“The quick escalation of bird flu cases in the U.S. since its first detection demands a more extensive coverage of trade restrictions to prevent the entry of the virus,”  Laurel said in a statement Tuesday.

Bird flu outbreaks in Maryland and Missouri were reported on 23 January, with 89 flocks testing positive for the virus. The first case in Maryland was detected on 14 January, while Missouri reported its outbreak on the same day.

A total of 13.2 million birds were confirmed to be affected in infected premises.

The issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for these commodities has also been halted.

DA, however, noted that meat imports in transit or accepted at the port will be allowed entry, provided they were slaughtered or produced at least 14 days before the first reported outbreak. Shipments that fail to meet these conditions will either be returned to the country of origin or disposed of.