Manila, September 17, 2024 – The British Ambassador to the Philippines hosted a networking reception at her residence on September 17, celebrating a significant milestone in UK-Philippine trade relations: the return of UK poultry imports to the Philippines after a three-year ban due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Laure Beaufils reflected on her third anniversary in the Philippines, recalling the initial disappointment felt when the temporary ban on UK poultry imports was announced.
Tonight, I am here to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the highest safety standards in agriculture, to celebrate with all of you the return of UK poultry to the Philippines after three years, and indeed to celebrate the growth of this industry, which is key to nutritional outcomes in the Philippines.
The recent lifting of the ban was formalized through the Department of Agriculture’s Memorandum Order No. 34, allowing the importation of UK domestic and wild birds and their products. This pivotal moment marks the resumption of trade that previously saw the UK as the sixth-largest source of poultry imports to the Philippines, with over 35 million kilograms traded from 2018 to 2022.
UK-Philippines trade reached an all-time high of £2.8 billion in 2023, with UK meat becoming the second-most exported commodity at £37.2 million. With UK poultry back on the menu, we anticipate significant growth in these figures.
To bolster confidence among industry stakeholders, a regionalization agreement has been established between the UK and the Philippines. This agreement ensures that safe trade with disease-free areas of the UK continues uninterrupted, even amid potential HPAI outbreaks. It specifies that farms, hatcheries, and slaughterhouses in affected districts will be ineligible to export, while those in unaffected areas can proceed under strict health protocols. The UK is currently free of HPAI in poultry, but the regionalisation agreement will allow safe trade to be preserved in the case of future isolated outbreaks.
The Ambassador credited the successful collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and UK authorities, including the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Business and Trade for this progress.
Their dedication to sharing knowledge and expertise is a testament to our countries’ ability to work together on various issues, to achieve data-driven outcomes.
She also assured government partners of the British Embassy’s ongoing support in sharing best practices to maintain trust and confidence in agricultural trade.
To our valued traders and importers here tonight, we invite you to explore our roster of leading UK suppliers. Our Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Team is here to support you in finding new suppliers or reconnecting with your trusted partners from the UK.
The evening’s gathering underscored the importance of UK-Philippine agricultural trade, driven by science, trust, and a shared commitment to meeting consumer appetites.
Contact
For more information, please contact dit.manila@fcdo.gov.uk