UK poultry and beef regain access to the Philippine market
UK poultry and beef exporters have regained access to the Philippine market, one of the fastest growing in Southeast Asia.
The UK can again export poultry and beef to the Philippines after securing a trade agreement during the inaugural UK-Philippines Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) meeting in London on March 17, 2025. The deal is expected to be worth up to GBP 80 million over the next five years.
The Philippines, a fast-growing economy and the second-most populous country in Southeast Asia, presents a major opportunity for British exporters. It is already the UK’s fourth-largest pork export market. As part of the agreement, the Philippines lifted a temporary ban on UK beef, which had been in place due to concerns over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease.
The UK also regained access to the Philippine poultry market after the country removed restrictions in September 2024. The ban, originally imposed in November 2020 due to avian influenza outbreaks in the UK, had halted poultry exports. Before the restriction, the UK was the sixth-largest poultry supplier to the Philippines, exporting about 6000 tons of poultry products annually from 2018.
A boost for UK agriculture
UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander welcomed the news, stating, “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, a country with a population of 112 million.”
The International Meat Trade Association also praised the move, calling it a step forward in strengthening trade ties. “We were delighted that last year the Philippines lifted the ban on UK poultry meat and [has now removed the temporary restriction] on UK beef. We hope the trade partnership between our countries continues to grow from strength to strength,” the association said in a statement.
Looking ahead
Beyond restoring market access, the UK and the Philippines are working to further strengthen agricultural trade. The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Philippine Department of Agriculture have agreed to collaborate on animal disease detection, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging agricultural technologies such as precision breeding and genetics.
The Agriculture Sectoral Working Group, endorsed during the JETCO meeting, will lead efforts to drive investment in agriculture and promote trade opportunities between both countries.
With increasing trade flows, the UK sees continued growth potential in Southeast Asia, positioning itself as a key supplier of high-quality meat products to the region.
