S Korea lifts import ban on PH chicken

The Philippines can now export chicken meat to South Korea after the latter finally lifted its import ban on the commodity coming from the Southeast Asian nation.

In a formal communication to the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA), Maria Alilia Maghirang, the country’s Agriculture Attache in Seoul, said the Philippines has already obtained the final approval of the Korean government to lift the temporary prohibition of chicken meat and pet birds (birds other than poultry) imports 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.

To recall, the Republic of Korea, through the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), prohibited the imports of Philippine chicken meat and pet birds in March 2020 amid the outbreak of H5 avian influenza (HPAI) in the Philippines.

It was just in January of this year when the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has declared the Philippines free from HPAI.

The OIE declaration came less than a year since bird flu was again detected in the Philippines, particularly in a commercial layer poultry farm in Pampanga and a backyard poultry farm in a village in Rizal.

Finally, on July 15, MAFRA issued an Administrative Notice No. 2021-58/ Notification No 2021-272 for the removal of the temporary suspension to import poultry and pet birds from the Philippines, effective August 6, 2021.