“As a result of intense high-level engagement between the European Commission and the Republic of Korea, EU countries can, as of today, export pork and poultry to the Republic of Korea more easily”, the European Commission announced on Monday 5 September.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MAFRA) has decided to remove a long-standing trade barrier affecting EU exports of pork and poultry products.
The Republic of Korea now recognises the EU’s stringent regionalisation measures to control outbreaks of African swine fever and the highly pathogenic avian influenza. “This decision could unlock over one billion euros of trade in the next years”, the Commission said.
The decision concerns 11 EU countries authorised to export poultry to this country (Germany, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, France, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Lithuania) and 14 authorised to export pork (Germany, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, France, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, Austria, Ireland and Portugal).
South Korea had imposed a national embargo on imports of pork or poultry meat from EU Member States affected by African swine fever or highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)