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The Philippines has been a pioneer within Asia in adopting biotechnology crops. On April 17, 2024, the Court of Appeals (CA) ruling on the Writ of Kalikasan revoked the biosafety permit for commercial propagation of golden rice and directed the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to cease and desist from commercially propagating and conducting activities relating to Bt eggplant.

On October 4, 2024, the Philippine Department of Agriculture amended Department Order No. 16 (2024), removing mechanically deboned or separated meat of chicken (HS Code 0207.14.91) from the list of agricultural products subjected to a price-based special safeguard (SSG) measure. T

Post forecasts demand for dairy products to increase 2 percent to 3 million metric tons (MMT) in liquid milk equivalent (LME) in 2025.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, which classifies agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and engaging in a cartel as economic sabotage.

Starting October 1, 2024, the Philippines moved to a B3 or 3 percent coco-methyl ester (CME) biodiesel mandate, from 2 percent previously. The blend will gradually increase to 4 percent in October 2025, and to 5 percent in October 2026.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture issued Department Order No. 16 (2024) on October 1, 2024, requesting the Bureau of Customs to continue imposing price-based special safeguard (SSG) measure on thirteen (13) agricultural tariff lines and impose price-based SSG on four (4) additional agricultural products.

FAS Manila forecasts raw sugar production at 1.85 million metric tons (MT) for marketing year (MY) 2025, higher than the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SRA) forecast of 1.78 million MT, due to an expansion in area planted and improvements in weather conditions from the previous El Niño, which is expected to provide better production in MY 2025.

FAS Manila forecasts 2025 chicken meat imports to grow slightly, reaching 480,000 MT as demand continues to outpace domestic supply. Chicken meat production in 2025 is expected to increase at 1.63 MMT ready-to-cook (RTC), up by about 4 percent year-on-year.

With the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, Post sees the retail sector growing five percent as modern retail stores continue to expand.

FAS Manila forecasts Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 rice imports to reach 4.60 million metric tons (MT), given the implementation of Executive Order No. 62, 2024 that reduced rice tariff rates from 35 to 15 percent.

On August 20, 2024, the Philippines notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of GBT/TBT/N/PHL/336 on the Guidelines on the Adoption of Codex Guidelines for Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) (CXC 95-2022) as Technical Regulation.

The Philippines recently notified regulations on follow-up formula or milk supplements and products for young children to the World Trade Organization.