OPEN MARKET. The Philippines’ poultry industry can export chicken meat and other pet birds to South Korea once again as the ban on these products were already lifted. The Korean government made the prohibition on March 2020 when Philippines experienced an H5 avian influenza outbreak. (Photo courtesy of DA)

MANILA – The South Korean government lifted the temporary prohibition of chicken meat and pet birds (birds other than poultry imports from the Philippines, the Philippine Agriculture Office (PAO) in Seoul announced.

Maria Alilia Maghirang, agriculture attaché in Seoul, in a memorandum addressed to Agriculture Secretary William Dar noted that this was following the PAO’s appeal submitted to the Korean government early this month.

In March 2020, the Republic of Korea (ROK), through the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), prohibited the imports of Philippine chicken meat and pet birds under “Import Sanitary Condition of Philippine chicken” and “Import Sanitary Condition of birds except poultry” in accordance with H5 avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the Philippines last year.

“PAO Seoul closely coordinated with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) for the swift correspondence and timely submission of requirements to lift the temporary suspension,” Maghirang stated on her report to the DA Secretary.

On July 15, 2021, MAFRA issued an Administrative Notice for the removal of the temporary suspension to import poultry and pet birds from the Philippines, effective August 6, 2021.

Maghirang noted that they have accomplished several requirements to facilitate the exports of Philippine chicken and pet birds to Korea which were the revision of Veterinary Health Certificates (VHC) for chicken meat and pet birds, and submission of accomplished application forms for the approval of Overseas Livestock Establishments’ renewal of accreditation to export chicken meat to Korea.

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), for their part, informed that they are in the process of completing the APQA inspection questionnaires of the Philippines’ poultry facilities for the renewal of their accreditation to export to Korea.

Maghirang clarified to the DA 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,” she added.