British Ambassador Laure Beaufils hosted a reception at her residence on September 17, celebrating a key development in UK-Philippine trade—the resumption of UK poultry exports after a three-year halt caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Ambassador Beaufils, marking her third year in the Philippines, spoke of the initial setback from the ban but emphasized the positive shift. “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 lifting of the ban, through the Department of Agriculture’s Memorandum Order No. 34, restores a trade relationship that once saw the UK as the Philippines’ sixth-largest poultry supplier, with over 35 million kilograms traded between 2018 and 2022.
In 2023, trade between the UK and the Philippines reached a record £2.8 billion, with meat exports valued at £37.2 million. The reentry of UK poultry is expected to fuel further growth in these numbers.
A regionalization agreement between both nations secures this trade against potential future HPAI outbreaks. It ensures that poultry from disease-free areas can be exported, while operations in affected regions are restricted. The UK currently remains HPAI-free in poultry, but the agreement guarantees continued trade stability in the event of any localized incidents.
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