The Philippines has lifted its bans on importing British beef and poultry, potentially unlocking £80 million in trade over the next five years. This development follows the inaugural UK-Philippines Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting in London on March 17, 2025, where both nations agreed to enhance their trade relationship.
The bans were initially imposed due to concerns over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, and avian influenza. The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) confirmed that the Philippines lifted its ban on UK poultry in September 2024, and a separate temporary ban on UK beef imports has also been lifted, now allowing British beef to reenter the Philippine market.
Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Philippine Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty co-chaired the JETCO meeting, focusing on strengthening cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, and technology. They also discussed collaboration between DEFRA and the Philippine Department of Agriculture to safeguard and expand market access for agri-food exporters.
Minister Alexander stated, “The lifting of bans on UK poultry and beef exports is great news for our world-class agricultural industry, which can once again sell these products to the Philippines, which has a population of 112 million.” He added that the trade talks mark “an important new chapter” in deepening relations with one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
The Philippines is the UK’s fourth-largest export market for pork, following the EU, China, and the US. Prior to the bans, the UK was the sixth-largest poultry supplier to the Philippines, exporting an average of 6,000 tons of poultry meat and products annually from 2018 to 2023. The lifting of these bans is expected to restore and potentially increase these export levels.
The International Meat Trade Association (MTA) welcomed the outcome of the JETCO meeting, highlighting the importance of the poultry regionalization agreement in maintaining trade flows. An MTA spokesperson expressed hope that the trade partnership between the UK and the Philippines “can continue to grow from strength to strength.”
This development is part of the UK’s broader strategy to enhance trade relations with fast-growing economies in Asia, aiming to boost economic growth and diversify export markets for British industries.
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