Philippines lifts pork import ban from South Korea following a six-year restriction due to the threat of African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced.
According to Memorandum Order No. 23, the DA has now authorized the re-entry of heat-processed pork products from South Korea that meet stringent high-level heat treatment protocols.
The DA stated that the policy will increase the availability of pork products for local consumers and contribute to stabilizing supply in the domestic market.
The decision follows the results of the April 8 Import Risk Analysis (IRA), which declared that sterilized pork products from South Korea are now considered a “safe commodity” under World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.
The ban was originally implemented in 2019 to prevent the entry of ASF into the Philippines after the disease spread across several countries.
Recent data shows a significant drop in active ASF cases in the country, with infections down to 47 across 23 cities and municipalities, compared to 54 barangays in 28 areas as of April 11.