DA eyes chicken exports to South Korea, UAE, Singapore

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is holding talks for the export of chicken to South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore.

This was announced yesterday by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Davinio Catbagan at the opening of the Philippine Poultry Show being held at the SM Mega Trade Halls in Mandaluyong City.

Catbagan also revealed that negotiationswith Hong Kong would be reopened following the Philippines’s resolution of an antibiotic residue issue raised by Hong Kong about two years ago.

The DA is trying to open up more export markets for Philippine poultry growers following a production boom that has caused local farm-gate prices to drop.

In an interview, Catbagan said the DA is trying to help establish market linkages between importers and local growers so that instead of importing chicken, the importers can source their chicken requirements from local growers.

According to Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, the Philippines is in the 5th step of an eight-step negotiation with Korea regarding the possible export of Philippine fresh dressed chickens to Korea.

However, Puyat said, no specific amount has been discussed.

The Philippines currently exports processed chicken, specifically in the form of yakitori or nuggets to Japan.

Gregorio San Diego, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), pointed out, however, that tapping the export market takes time because of the long accreditation process for exporters.

San Diego said that the immediate solution to the overproduction is for the DA to stop the continued importation of chicken, particularly through the Minimum Access Volume (MAV), a system wherein accredited MAV holders importers are allowed to import a specified volume of chicken at a 40 percent tariff rate.