A temporary ban has been imposed on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products from Illinois in the United States, following outbreaks of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, in the state.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed the order through Department Circular 15, series of 2026, on March 26.
Veterinary authorities on March 9 reported several outbreaks of H5N1 HPAI affecting domestic birds in Illinois, and confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
According to a mutual agreement in 2016 between the Philippines and the US, a statewide ban should only be imposed if HPAI affects three or more counties in one state.
Official reports from Illinois to the World Organization for Animal Health showed that three or more counties in the state are affected by HPAI.
The restriction imposed by the Philippines includes poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen. The DA memo also orders an immediate suspension of the processing and evaluation of applications and the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for the commodities. All approved SPSICs for live domestic and wild birds are also automatically revoked.
Veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors are directed to stop and confiscate all shipments of the prohibited commodities at all major ports of entry.
However, shipments in transit, loaded, or accepted in ports before the effectivity of the ban are exempted, provided the products were slaughtered or produced before Feb. 10, 2026.
Failure to comply with this condition will be handled according to Article XI, Section 65 of DA's Department Circular 14, series of 2025. This means shipments may be disposed of through confiscation or seizure and destruction, return to the country of origin, shipment to a third country, or donation.
The order takes effect 15 days after publication on the DA‘s website and the filing of copies with the Office of the National Administrative Register, and will remain in force unless revoked in writing.
