Ban on S. Korean pork products lifted

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it lifted a 2019 ban on imports of processed pork products from South Korea, following a risk assessment of Korean efforts to contain African Swine Fever (ASF).

Memorandum Order No. 23 permits the entry of pork items subjected to high-level heat treatment.

The restriction was imposed in 2019 to shield the hog industry from ASF.

The DA said it reconsidered its stance following the findings of the recent Import Risk Analysis dated April 8, 2025, which concluded that sterilized pork products from South Korea intended for export meet World Organization for Animal Health standards and are deemed a “safe commodity.”

The report cited South Korea’s “robust” veterinary oversight and ASF control systems.

It also noted the shelf stability and secure packaging of South Korean pork products.

“With these assurances, sterilized pork products from South Korea are permitted for import in accordance with existing Philippine regulations,” the DA said in a statement.

“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. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza