Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured the public of a sufficient supply of poultry products despite the impending temporary import ban on Brazil following reports of its first bird flu outbreak.

Tiu Laurel confirmed that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will impose a countrywide poultry ban on Brazil, the country’s top meat supplier.

During the Palace press briefing on Monday, Tiu Laurel said Brazil is not the Philippines’ sole supplier of poultry, noting the imposition of the poultry import ban will result in market diversion.

The advantage of Brazil is its lower prices compared to other suppliers, he said.

“I think the price difference is a few percentage lang. So, as far as supply is concerned, I really don’t see any issue. Baka may brief supply gap lang na baka one or two weeks, because they have to change origins,” Tiu Laurel said.

“But in general, I don’t see any issue, because even our local poultry industry is medyo maganda ang production eh. So, wala masyado akong nakikitang isyu,” he stressed.

Brazil’s bird flu outbreak, the first in the South American country, triggered import bans from various countries including China, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay. | PND