November 11, 2025

South Korea ends ban on pork imports from Germany

South Korea lifted its ban on pork imports from Germany on October 23, following intensive discussions between the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (BMLEH) and the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).

The ban was imposed due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Following the detection of FMD in Germany in January 2025, South Korea, like many other countries, banned imports of pork and pork products from Germany.

Trade of fresh pork, which had recently resumed following the regionalisation of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, came to a standstill.

South Korea is one of the most important third-country markets for the export of pork and pork products. In 2024, before the FMD ban, approximately 51,000 tons were exported.

On January 10, 2025, the first case of foot-and-mouth disease in more than 35 years was detected in Germany, in water buffalo in the Märkisch-Oderland district of Brandenburg, and no further cases have been reported in Germany since then.

As confirmation of the rapid and effective containment, control, and surveillance measures implemented by the federal and state governments, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reinstated the status of "foot-and-mouth disease-free without vaccination" for all of Germany on April 14, 2025.

Subsequently, several countries have gradually lifted their import restrictions.

- BMLEH