WASHINGTON – South Korea’s Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MIFAFF) issued notice 2011-220, which is effective May 11, for a tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 50,000 metric tons of chicken with a zero import duty, according to a May 12 USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report.

MIFAFF’s notice also listed additional agricultural commodities in its effort to counter rising food prices caused in large part by animal diseases in South Korea’s livestock and poultry, stated the May 13 edition of the National Chicken Council’s Washington Report.


Chicken eligible under the TRQ include whole fresh, chilled, or frozen chickens weighing less than 550 grams (about 2.5 lbs.) or parts (legs, breasts, and wings) with no specified weight. In addition, the notice provides for one million baby layer chicks. The TRQ expires at the end of 2011.

Only companies with a history of importing poultry or egg products will be considered eligible to participate in the new program, according to information provided by USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) about South Korea’s notice. A substantial quantity of chicken has been positioned in anticipation of the notice and is waiting to clear customs for actual importation, USAPEEC also noted.