DA awaits South Korea, UAE nod on chicken exports

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is waiting for the go-signal from the South Korean government and the United Arab Emirates regarding the exportation of whole dressed chicken, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said yesterday. 

“We hope that by the end of the year, Korea will release the authority for us to export whole chicken. We are also waiting for the same from UAE,” said Alcala.

  In November, Alcala said the government is taking advantage of the country’s bird flu-free status by negotiating with the South Korean government and private businesses to import dressed chicken from the Philippines.

Alcala said the Philippine poultry industry could supply the Korean demand for whole dressed chicken because neighboring countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are not yet free from bird flu.

Bird flu is an infectious disease in chickens, ducks and other birds caused by the influenza A virus.

Korea imports 93 million kilos of chicken per year, mostly from Thailand. With the prevalence of bird flu in Thailand, the Philippines could corner a portion of the Korean market.

The Philippines currently exports yakitori nuggets to Japan.

The Philippine government and the South Korean government have been discussing the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for chicken exports as well as the risks in local poultry production.

Alcala has already informed poultry companies and organizations in the Philippines such as the United Broilers and Raisers Association (UMBRA) and San Miguel Corporation of the possible opening of the Korean market.

Data from the Department of Agriculture shows that the Philippines is now 93 percent self-sufficient in poultry production.

Production volume in the poultry subsector in the first nine months of the year, which had a share of 14.28 percent in total farm output for the period went up by 4.62 percent.

All components of livestock and poultry posted output gains except duck. Gross earnings of the subsector amounted to P121.7 billion at current prices during the nine-month period, higher by 4.82 percent from a year ago.