PH, South Korea discuss food safety compliance to ensure uninterrupted trade

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has met with officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to evaluate the country’s adherence to new Korean regulations on processed meat-containing products.

The meeting, held at the FDA South Luzon Cluster Office in Muntinlupa City on Feb. 3, aimed to assess compliance with South Korea’s revised Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control and its Enforcement Decree, both issued in December 2023.

The FDA said that these amendments, set to take effect in June 2024, mandate that specific agricultural products—including processed meat and egg-containing items—must undergo Import Sanitation Assessment (ISA) procedures before export.

Under the revised regulations, the agency said processed products containing at least 40 percent beef or pork must comply with ISA requirements.

Such change affects Philippine exporters aiming to maintain market access to South Korea.

The FDA said that regulatory officials, including representatives from the Department of Agriculture’s National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), joined the discussions.

These agencies, according to the FDA, “work hand in hand in recognizing the importance of inter-agency collaboration to ensure compliance.”

The agency said the meeting covered an evaluation of the ISA questionnaire, an assessment of the impact of the new rules on Philippine exporters, and discussions on providing guidance to affected businesses.

Per the FDA, the Philippine government sees compliance with these new regulations as critical to preserving trade ties with South Korea and enhancing the competitiveness of local food exporters in the global market.

“These efforts are designed to uphold food safety standards while enhancing the competitiveness of Philippine-registered exporters in the global market,” the FDA stated.