The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted the temporary ban on poultry imports from Brazil, in a move seen to stabilize the local supply chain and strengthen food security through diversified sourcing.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., in Memorandum Order No. 35, announced that poultry and poultry products – including meat, eggs, day-old chicks, and semen – may again be imported from Brazil, after authorities confirmed the resolution of the avian influenza outbreak that triggered the ban in May.

The ban, which took effect on 19 May, was imposed as a precautionary measure following reports of bird flu in Brazil. But the Department said it found the risk of contamination to be “negligible” based on an evaluation by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Brazil, which supplies about one-third of the world’s chicken exports, is a key player in the global poultry trade. With the lifting of the restriction, the Philippines restores access to one of its major import sources – a move expected to help mitigate inflationary pressures in the food sector.

Secretary Tiu Laurel said that the lifting of the ban is in line with guidelines from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), which now considers Brazil free of avian influenza.

He noted that Brazil reported no new outbreaks since 18 June, allowing the Philippines to resume imports while safeguarding biosecurity standards.

The DA said the move is part of its broader strategy to diversify agricultural import sources, ensuring a steady supply of food commodities and reducing the risk of price shocks caused by supply disruptions in any single country.

The order takes effect immediately and will remain in force until amended or revoked.