Browse Data and Analysis

The combination of COVID disruptions and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks led to a 1.8 percent decline in EU (European Union) chicken meat production in Calendar Year (CY) 2021. Despite ongoing HPAI outbreaks, easing COVID restrictions will likely result in a 0.2 percent increase in EU chicken meat production in CY 2022.

FAS Manila forecasts Market Year (MY) 2022/23 milled rice production will reach 12.4 million metric tons (MT), flat with the previous year’s near-record high. The Philippine government’s support programs will help rice farmers partially offset rising input costs.

FAS Manila maintains 2022 pork production at 1 million metric tons (MT), flat compared to 2021, as repopulation efforts in Luzon are offset by new outbreaks of African Swine Fever in Mindanao and the impact of Typhoon Odette (Rai) in the Visayas.

On May 2020, the European Commission announced a revision of the legislative framework for Geographical Indications (GIs) as part of the European Union (EU) Green Deal’s Farm to Fork Strategy.

On February 15, 2022, the Philippines approved the revised Joint Department Circular No. 1 (JDC), streamlining the regulatory policy governing plant biotechnology. Signed by five Department Secretaries, the document was published in two newspapers on March 8, 2022, and will go into effect 15 days later.

Hong Kong continues to take random tests on imports of chilled and frozen foods and their packaging for the COVID-19 virus.

The Philippines has two laws to provide tariff and tax exemptions that support the importation of raw materials and/or inputs for the benefit of local agricultural production.

The Third Edition of the Philippine Department of Agriculture's Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) Manual of Procedure was finalized in 2020.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon execute a $10 Million fuel subsidy program for farmers and fishers to reduce production costs (PhP500 Million).

The European Commission is banning titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive in the EU, starting with a six-month phasing out period as of February 7, 2022, until August 7, 2022, after which a full ban applies. Following the publication of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ) on January 18, 2022, Annex II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives will be amended accordingly.

Both EU beef and pork production are forecast to decline in 2022. The lower domestic beef production is caused by a shrinking dairy herd with higher milk deliveries but a lower output of animals for slaughter.