Philippines lifts ban on South Korean pork products

On Monday, May 5, the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) lifted a temporary ban on processed pork products from South Korea. The decision was taken by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. after an import risk analysis (IRA) showed that these products meet health standards. The DA imposed the ban in March citing a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Korea as the main reason. However, the IRA highlighted the general security of South Korean products due to robust veterinary oversight, quality control systems, and secure packaging procedures. It concluded its analysis by recommending the import of sterilized pork products from South Korea according to existing Philippine regulations. The recommendation was picked up by the Agriculture Secretary who has allowed the entry of South Korean pork items subject to high-level heat treatment.