Polish poultry soon to be on Asian tables
“We produce three million tons of poultry meat annually. This is the most in the EU.” – informed Dariusz Goszczynski, President of the Management Board in National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce (KRD-IG), during the seminar “Southeast Asia – opportunities for development and export cooperation.” According to him, the high quality of domestic poultry predestines it for sale even in such demanding markets as Japan and Hong Kong.
Poultry importers from Japan and Hong Kong visited Poland as part of the promotional campaign “Poultry with a European passport”. The stay was aimed at familiarizing Far Eastern entrepreneurs with the Polish poultry industry, showing the innovativeness of the industry and attention to high quality and production standards.
The reference visit of poultry importers from Japan and Hong Kong was crowned by a seminar entitled “Southeast Asia – opportunities for development and export cooperation” organized by the KRD-IG for European poultry producers. The meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), aimed to provide poultry producers with practical knowledge of the Japanese and Hong Kong markets.
“The development of the poultry industry since Poland’s entry into the EU has brought us into the ranks of recognized and modern producers. Polish food meets very high quality standards and is also attractively priced.” – Magdalena Zelazna of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said. The Ministry representative reminded that meat production and export is a Polish specialty. In 2023, the value of poultry meat exports from Polish companies amounted to EUR 4.1 billion.
The promotional campaign “Poultry with a European Passport” is led by the KRD-IG, which brings together more than 100 of the largest Polish production companies operating in the “field to table” chain, representing 90% of exporters. The project is financed with the support of the European Union.
“We produce three million tons of poultry meat annually. This is the most in the EU. Germany, next on the podium and France each produce about 1.7 million tons,” informed Dariusz Goszczynski, President of the Management Board in KRD-IG.
The “Poultry with a European Passport” campaign aims to increase awareness of European poultry products.
“The EU is known worldwide for its high quality products. We have and enforce regulations not only on food quality, but also on animal welfare.” – Dariusz Goszczynski argued.
An important benefit for European poultry producers attending the seminar with Japanese and Hong Kong importers were presentations by representatives of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and the Chief Veterinary Officer (GIV). The experts showed what support entrepreneurs can count on.
“We analyze a company’s export potential and help outline the direction of expansion. We create information packages about the market, its value, organize B2B meetings and search for business partners.” – Patryk Szczotka, PAIH representative, enumerated.
Vet. Pawel Meyer, Deputy Chief Veterinarian for Food Safety of Animal Origin and Feed, Pharmacy and Utilization, presented veterinary requirements and sanitary requirements for the export of Polish meat to Japan and Hong Kong. He announced that the ban on importing meat from Poland and EU countries due to avian influenza will soon be lifted.
“The Chief Veterinary Officer has made a declaration to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) of regaining the status of a country free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry as of April 5, 2024.” – informed vet. Pawel Meyer.
The filing of the declaration is due to the completion of procedures to eradicate outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry found on the territory of the Republic of Poland between December 7, 2023 and March 2, 2024.
According to Article 10.4.6 of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, recovery of the free status can take place 28 days after the implementation of the stamping-out policy, provided that the activities are completed and supervision is ensured. The Polish veterinary services have implemented all the control procedures provided for in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, including culling of birds, disposal of carcasses of dead and killed poults, cleaning and disinfection. Restricted areas were established around the disease outbreaks, where there were restrictions. Poland, as a member state of the European Union, implements an avian influenza surveillance program in poultry farms and wild birds.
“Currently, on the territory of the Republic of Poland there are no restrictions on the movement of poultry, meat and poultry products resulting from procedures for the control of avian influenza in poultry,” – emphasized vet. Pawel Meyer.
Among the speakers attending the the seminar were also present entrepreneurs with experience and active operations in the Japanese and Hong Kong markets, who brought closer the specifics of doing business there and pointed out the barriers and opportunities for developing cooperation with Asian partners.
“The Japanese counterparty takes a long time to make decisions, requires high quality products and service,” said Michal Taberski, owner of a Polish butcher shop operating in the Japanese market. “For Europeans, it is interesting that the packages of products are small, there are no 500-gram ones, and that any complaint must be handled in favor of the customers.” – he added.
Maciej Łojek, who took a closer look at the peculiarities of the Hong Kong market, recalled that due to industrialization in the region there is no room for cultivation and breeding, so imported goods dominate.
“Chinese cuisine makes extensive use of chicken, duck and turkey, it’s a potential for development. Hong Kong is a strategic location to start a commercial adventure with the East.” – Maciej Łojek concluded.
