The UK has received approval to export beef to the Philippines, with Defra estimating the market to be worth £34m to the UK beef industry over the next five years.

Following a Defra visit to the Philippines in March 2015, the Filipino authorities inspected UK beef controls in November 2016.

Market access for beef was withdrawn in 1996 due to BSE concerns and the ban was lifted in 2001.

Beef reared in the UK will now join pork, poultry, lamb and dairy on the list of UK food and drink shipped to the Philippines.

“The Philippines is the largest food and drink market in south-east Asia, with meat consumption expected to grow by 10% over the next five years,” a statement from AHDB reads.

“This decision enhances an exciting 12 months for UK red-meat exports, with wider markets opening in Hong Kong last July and a Japanese government delegation investigating beef production controls just last month,” Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB’s International Market Development Director, said.