South Korea will begin exporting processed meat products including its traditional ginseng chicken soup samgyetang to the Philippines after it has reached an agreement with the Southeast Asian country on hygiene and quarantine matters.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Monday, processed meat products and foods such as samgyetang, ham, and sausages will be allowed for shipping to the Philippines after an agreement was reached by the two countries on hygiene and quarantine.

Under the agreement, Korea will begin exporting processed items in categories ranging from beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and goat meat. In accordance with the Southeast Asian country’s related law, processed meat products will be limited to commercial purposes and will include cooked, smoked, cured, dried, and seasoned meats.

An unnamed official from Korea’s food ministry said the latest agreement is expected to boost exports of Korean-made processed meat products such as samgyetang and ham to other Southeast Asian countries near the Philippines.

Korean processed meat retailers that wish to export their products will have to receive a verification certificate from the Philippines authority on specific items they wish to bring in to the country via an importer. They will also need clearance documents such as certifications for quarantine, free sales, and hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

By Lee Yu-sup and Lee Eun-joo

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