Export ban on Polish poultry to affect Phl supply base

The export restriction on poultry products from certain regions of Poland may impact the country's supply base for imported raw materials, particularly mechanically deboned meat (MDM), which is a vital raw material of local meat processors, industry players said.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Poland is the third-largest exporter of poultry products in the world and the biggest in Europe. Last year, Poland exported at least 1.79 million MT of poultry products, based on International Trade Centre data.

In an advisory, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Poland has announced the suspension of its poultry product exports, including eggs, from select regions for a minimum of 30 days starting last April 23.

The decision followed the European Commission's implementation of emergency measures to address and curb the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in high-risk areas in Europe.

The export ban covers the following areas in Poland: Mazowieckie (East-Central), Wielkopolskie (West-Central), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Mid-Northern), Łódzkie (Central) and Warmińsko-Mazurskie (Northeast).