Question & AnswerQ&A (DA MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 18)
The subject is the lifting of the temporary ban on the importation of pork, pork products, and by-products from Mainland South Korea.
The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recognized South Korea as foot and mouth disease-free without vaccination.
Conditions include certification by the Veterinary Administration of the exporting country that live pigs, semen, and meat come from Classical Swine Fever (CSF) Free Zones; animals were slaughtered in accredited abattoirs and found healthy before and after slaughter; and issuance by the Korean Meat Traders' Association (KMTA) of a good standing performance certificate of the exporting firm.
KMTA must police its own ranks to ensure quality standards of meat and meat products for export and issue a good standing performance certificate for exporting firms.
Import transactions must comply with rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI), and National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC).
They must certify that live pigs, semen, and meat are from CSF Free Zones with no clinical signs of disease and that animals were slaughtered in accredited establishments and found healthy before and after slaughter.
They are repealed or amended accordingly.
The order took effect immediately upon adoption on May 27, 2003.