The Philippines has approved the veterinary health certificates agreed upon with Colombia for beef and pork exports, according to Colombia's Ministry of Agriculture.
The decision allows import permit applications to be submitted to Philippine authorities for facilities and products that meet the established sanitary requirements.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) and the private sector, will continue working to secure the first commercial shipments to this new Asian destination.
The Philippines is a significant beef importer, with purchases totaling around 207,000 tons in product weight in 2025. Brazil is its leading supplier, accounting for approximately 44% of imports, followed by Australia, while India also has a significant presence in the Philippine market through buffalo meat exports.
USDA forecasts indicate that Philippine bovine meat imports will reach approximately 295,000 tons carcass weight equivalent in 2027, up from previous years.
Tighten the market-context paragraphDistinguish beef from buffalo meat