DA halts carabeef imports from Uttar Pradesh

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has suspended the accreditation of 11 foreign meat establishments (FMES) in Uttar Pradesh, India, to export buffalo meat to the Philippines over foot and mouth disease (FMD) concerns.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar on October 22 issued Memorandum Order (MO) 54 which imposed the suspension pending the response of the Indian government to a letter sent by Manila.

Under the MO, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, Dar explained that government auditors found out that there are FMD outbreaks in Uttar Pradesh, India, as indicated in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease ( ICAR-DFMD) Annual Report 2017-2018.

A team composed of members from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) went to India last

March as part of its annual surveillance audit of Indian FMES.

Dar said the BAI has sent on August 10 official communication to India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) which sought clarification on the FMD outbreaks “seen” in the ICAR-FMD annual report.

Based on the ICAR-FMD annual report, India had a total of 149 outbreaks of FMD in 2017 and 2018.

“The DAHD of India has not yet responded to the letter of BAI to further explain the FMD outbreaks in their country,” Dar said in the MO.

“Until the BAI receives an official response from the DAHD regarding the FMD outbreaks, especially on Uttar Pradesh, where eleven [11] FMES are previously accredited by the Philippines, these FMES will be temporarily suspended,” he added.

With the issuance of the MO, Dar has also ordered the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) of Indian buffalo meat from Uttar Pradesh.

“All previously approved SPS Import Clearances which have not yet left India after the issuance of this order are hereby revoked and therefore advised not to sail their shipment,” he said.

“All shipments which are already in transit will be accepted provided intensified inspection of documents and Indian Buffalo Meat shipments shall be conducted by DA-BAI veterinary quarantine officers at the ports of entry,” he added.

Dar has ordered a “more rigorous and tight inspection on all arrivals of Indian Buffalo meat products from India by DA-NMIS Plant Officers assigned at DA accredited cold storage warehouse.”

The Phi l ippines impor ted 23,730.228 metric tons of carabeef or Indian buffalo meat products from January to September, based on latest BAI data.

The World Organisation for Animal Health officially declared the Philippines as free from FMD without vaccination in 2015.