Philippines formalises UK poultry import rules under HPAI regionalisation framework
Policy allows trade to proceed despite outbreaks in other parts of the exporting country
PHILIPPINES – The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines has officially adopted regionalisation rules governing imports of poultry and related products from the United Kingdom, converting an arrangement applied in practice since 2024 into a formal policy through Department Circular No. 17.
This development follows a statement released on April 22 confirming that the policy institutionalises mutual recognition of areas declared free from highly pathogenic avian influenza, allowing shipments from those zones to continue entering the Philippine market without disruption.
The formalisation follows an assessment by the Bureau of Animal Industry, which concluded that the UK maintains adequate veterinary controls and disease management systems that reduce the likelihood of contaminated imports originating from approved regions.
Under the circular, permitted imports include live poultry and other bird species, day-old chicks, hatching eggs, and processed poultry meat, provided they are sourced exclusively from UK المناطق certified as free of the disease.
Risk-based trade approach
The policy centres on a regionalisation model that enables importing countries to continue trade with unaffected zones within a nation experiencing outbreaks, rather than imposing a blanket ban on all exports from that country.
As a result, Philippine authorities can continue sourcing poultry products from disease-free areas in the UK, a move expected to help maintain supply consistency while diversifying sourcing options.
Alignment with existing rules
This step builds on the UK’s existing accreditation to export poultry to the Philippines and is consistent with Administrative Circular No. 09 issued in 2025, which sets out procedures for recognising disease-free zones in trading partners.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the framework allows authorities to balance import flexibility with controls intended to protect both consumers and domestic agriculture.
He added that maintaining access to safe poultry imports from unaffected areas abroad can help ensure a stable supply even when animal disease incidents occur in exporting countries.
All shipments will still be required to meet existing import conditions, including compliance with Philippine regulations on animal health and food safety.
The circular is scheduled to take effect 15 days after publication on the Department of Agriculture’s official website and upon submission to the national administrative registry at the University of the Philippines Law Center in Diliman, Quezon City.
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