The Philippines may soon resume chicken exports to South Korea after Seoul lifted the temporary import ban on local poultry products due to the avian influenza outbreaks last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In a memorandum, Maria Alilia G. Maghirang, agriculture attaché in South Korea, has informed Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar that the South Korean government has given its final approval to lift the temporary import ban on chicken meat and pet birds from the Philippines.
“We are pleased to inform the good Secretary that the Philippines can already export live birds (other than poultry) to South Korea. Post expects Philippine chicken meat export may commence upon approval of the poultry establishments,” Maghirang said in her memorandum, a copy of which was released to the media.
South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) issued in mid-July an administrative notice authorizing the removal of the temporary import ban on Philippine poultry and pet birds, which took effect last August 6.
To facilitate the resumption of exports of poultry products, the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) in Seoul coordinated with the Bureau of Animal Industry and National Meat Inspection Service to comply with the requirements of South Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).
The requirements include the revision of the Philippine veterinary health certificates (VHC) for chicken meat and pet birds as well as the submission of application for the renewal of accreditation of poultry export facilities in the country.
For the VHC revision, Maghirang said APQA and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the changes made by the Philippines last August 11.
She added that the NMIS is now in the process of renewing the accreditation of Philippine poultry facilities to export to South Korea. The government is targeting to complete the renewal process within the month.
Ana’s Breeders Farms Inc., Carino and Sons Agri-Dev. Inc, LDP Farms Food Corp., Johanna’s Chicken Processing Center Inc., Bounty Fresh Food Inc., and Integrated Meat and Poultry Processing Inc. are seeking renewal of their export accreditation to South Korea.
Once these poultry facilities secure the approval of Seoul, they may resume chicken exports to South Korea, Maghirang said.
In March 2020, South Korea imposed a temporary import ban on Philippine chicken meat and pet birds following the confirmation of bird flu outbreaks in the country.
The Philippines recorded bird flu outbreaks in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Rizal last year, all of which were short-lived and immediately addressed by government authorities, according to the DA.
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