The Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul, South Korea announced that they have already obtained the final approval of the Korean government to lift the temporary prohibition of chicken meat and pet birds’ imports from the Philippines.
Maria Alilia Maghirang, agriculture attaché in Seoul, in a memorandum addressed to Agriculture Secretary William Dar that was shared to reporters yesterday, noted that this was following the PAO’s appeal submitted to the Korean government early this month.
In March 2020, the Republic of Korea, through the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 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 outbreak in the Philippines last year.
“PAO Seoul closely coordinated with the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency for the swift correspondence and timely submission of requirements to lift the temporary suspension,” Maghirang said in her report to Dar.
On July 15, Mafra issued an Administrative Notice for the removal of the temporary suspension to import poultry and pet birds from the Philippines, effective August 6.
Maghirang noted that they have accomplished several requirements to facilitate the exports of Philippine chicken and pet birds to Korea, including the revision of Veterinary Health Certificates 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 DA’s National Meat Inspection Service said 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.*PNA
