The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Vietnam lifts import ban on Korean poultry

By Yonhap

Published : Nov. 6, 2017 - 11:19

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South Korean poultry farms will be able to export chickens and ducks to Vietnam, one year after sales were banned due to a widespread outbreak of avian influenza, the agriculture ministry here said Monday.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Hanoi notified Seoul on Friday of its decision to lift the import ban after the two sides agreed on quarantine measures. 

A farmer feeds chickens in a henhouse in Danyang, 193 km south of Seoul, on Aug. 17, 2017. (Yonhap) A farmer feeds chickens in a henhouse in Danyang, 193 km south of Seoul, on Aug. 17, 2017. (Yonhap)

Vietnam suspended chicken imports in November 2016 after the highly pathogenic AI swept across South Korea last winter, which led to the culling of more than 33 million birds. 

The latest decision comes after Seoul acquired AI clean status on Oct. 13 and notified the World Organization for Animal Health that it was free of the contagious disease.

Hong Kong lifted a ban on imports of Korean chickens on Oct. 30.

Vietnam imported $25 million worth of poultry from South Korea in 2016, becoming the top export destination for Korean chickens. (Yonhap)