Philippines Lifts Ban on Heat-Treated Pork Products from South Korea

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The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has officially lifted its temporary ban on the importation of processed pork products from South Korea, following a comprehensive risk assessment and scientific validation of the country’s African Swine Fever (ASF) control protocols.

Outlined in Memorandum Order No. 23, signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the decision allows the entry of pork items that have undergone high-level heat treatment. Specifically, eligible products must either have an Fo value of 3 or more in hermetically sealed containers or be heated for at least 30 minutes at a minimum of 70°C.

The original ban, imposed in 2019 under DA Memorandum Order No. 26, was a protective measure to shield the domestic hog industry from ASF amid global outbreaks. However, a recent Import Risk Analysis (IRA) dated April 8, 2025, concluded that sterilized pork products from South Korea meet the standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and are considered a "safe commodity."

The IRA highlighted South Korea’s robust veterinary oversight, effective ASF control systems, and the secure, shelf-stable packaging of its pork products. With these assurances in place, the DA has deemed it safe to resume imports of sterilized pork in compliance with existing Philippine regulations.

The policy change is expected to boost pork supply for Filipino consumers and may signal a warming of agri-trade relations between the Philippines and South Korea.


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