The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its six-year import ban on heat-treated processed pork products from South Korea, originally imposed due to African swine fever (ASF) concerns.
Under DA Memorandum Order No. 23 signed by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., pork imports will be allowed entry as long as they undergo “high-level” heat treatment. This includes products sterilized at an Fo value of 3 (equivalent to sterilization at 121.1°C) or heated at a minimum of 70°C for 30 minutes.
“With this policy shift, more pork products are anticipated to be available to consumers in the Philippines. It may also indicate a potential thaw in agri-trade relations between the two countries,” the DA said in a statement.
The decision follows an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) conducted on April 8, which found that sterilized pork products from South Korea meet World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards and are considered safe for import.
“The IRA highlighted South Korea’s robust veterinary oversight and ASF control systems, and noted the shelf-stability and secured packaging of the imported products. With these assurances, sterilized pork products from South Korea are permitted for import in accordance with existing Philippine regulations,” the DA added.
The import ban was initially put in place in 2019 through Memorandum Order No. 26.
As of April 25, active ASF cases in the Philippines have dropped to 47 barangays across 23 cities and municipalities, down from 54 barangays in 28 areas recorded on April 11.