DA lifts 6-year ban on Korean heat-treated pork

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted a six-year-old ban on importing heat-treated processed pork products from South Korea, following scientific validation of its safety protocols against African swine fever (ASF).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued Memorandum Order 23, allowing the entry of Korean pork items subjected to high-level heat treatment and confirmed safe by an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) dated April 8, 2025.

The IRA found that sterilized pork products from South Korea meet World Organization for Animal Health standards and have robust veterinary oversight and ASF control systems.

Sterilized pork products are deemed safe due to their shelf-stability and secure packaging, aligning with Philippine regulations.

This move aims to ensure that imported pork products meet stringent safety and health standards while supporting trade relations between the Philippines and South Korea.

The DA also lifted a temporary ban on poultry imports from Minnesota in the United States following the conclusion of bird flu cases there, as reported by US veterinary authorities.