The Philippines' Department of Agriculture has lifted the ban on importing domestic, wild birds, and poultry products from California and South Dakota, following the absence of new avian influenza outbreaks since May and June. This decision, formalized by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. through Memorandum Order No. 37, comes after initial bans due to H5N1 outbreaks. The poultry sector, a key part of Philippine agriculture, saw a 2% production increase in the first half of the year, with Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Northern Mindanao leading in bird inventories.