THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) announced the lifting of the temporary ban with regards to the importation of domestic and wild birds from Iowa and Minnesota

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement that they decided to lift the ban on the importation, which will take effect immediately and remain in force until revoked.

It will be recalled that last year, they imposed a ban which covered poultry, poultry products, and by-products including day-old chicks and hatching eggs from the two US states.

The said temporary ban came amid the outbreak of avian influenza in Iowa and Minnesota.

Tiu Laurel noted that the lifting of the ban comes as the official report of the US veterinary authorities to the World Organization of Animal Health that all affected counties in Iowa and Minnesota had been free of the highly pathogenic avian influenza cases since January 10, 2024.