MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has officially lifted the temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild pigs and their products from Taiwan. In a memorandum order issued on April 30, 2026, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the island is once again cleared for trade following successful disease eradication efforts.
The move is expected to stabilize the domestic supply of pork and provide more options for Filipino consumers amidst fluctuating local market prices.
The DA’s decision follows a rigorous assessment of Taiwan’s animal health situation:
- FMD-Free Status: Taiwan has maintained its status as a “Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) free zone where vaccination is not practiced,” as recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
- ASF Containment: The DA confirmed that Taiwan has effectively managed and contained risks related to African Swine Fever (ASF), ensuring that exported products meet international safety standards.
- Technical Evaluation: A team of Filipino animal health experts conducted a series of inspections and document reviews, concluding that the risk of disease transmission from Taiwanese pork is now negligible.
The reopening of the trade route for Taiwanese pork is seen as a strategic move to address local supply gaps:
- Diversified Supply: Importers can now source high-quality pork belly (liempo), ham (kasim), and processed meat products from Taiwan, reducing over-reliance on a few traditional trade partners.
- Price Stabilization: Increased supply is anticipated to exert downward pressure on retail pork prices, which have remained elevated due to the lingering effects of ASF in several Philippine provinces.
- Strict Monitoring: Despite the lifting of the ban, the DA clarified that all shipments must still undergo mandatory inspection and quarantine protocols at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to ensure continued biosecurity.
The lifting of the ban marks a significant milestone in agricultural trade relations between Manila and Taipei.
- Import Requirements: All imported pork products must be accompanied by an International Veterinary Certificate issued by Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ).
- Consumer Safety: The DA reassured the public that only registered establishments in Taiwan that comply with Philippine standards will be allowed to export.
“This is a science-based decision,” Secretary Tiu Laurel noted. “By expanding our sources for safe pork, we are protecting both our consumers from high prices and our local industry from potential disease outbreaks through controlled and verified imports.”
