DA sets dialogue with livestock players

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will gather stakeholders of the livestock industry this week amid issues of importation and possible increase in fees.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol intends to hold a dialogue with livestock players to discuss plans to lift the ban on meat imports from Brazil and a possible increase in meat inspection fees.

“How could they react to something which has no certainty of being implemented? There will be a stakeholders forum on Wednesday and this could be properly addressed,” Piñol said in a text message.

DA-attached agency National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) recently issued a draft of an administrative circular that seeks to update and adjust the agency’s and LGUs’ 1993 rates for antemortem and postmortem fees at par with the country’s current economic status.

“It has not even reached my office yet. If there is indeed such proposal, it will be taken up during the forum,” he added.

The industry has been opposing the move, saying no proper consultation has been made with the stakeholders.

“We reacted because the period to comment and react had lapsed without consulting us. Who did they consult? The whole industry did not know that there is such a proposal,” the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) said.

The livestock industry is hoping for a positive turnout of events during the consultation as pushing through with the increase in fees will burden the consumers.

“The consultation will speak for itself on who will earn and who will not. But we are sure, producers and ordinary consumers will lose,” the group said.

Likewise, Sinag said it would remain firm on its stand to not allow the lifting of the ban due to food safety and public health concerns.

“We can source our imports from our other major meat exporting countries that are FMD (foot-and-mouth disease) free without vaccine except Brazil, China, Vietnam and Thailand. Why insist on getting the supply in a country where there is a prevalence of FMD vaccination?” the group said.

According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the Philippines is among the 66 recognized FMD-free countries where vaccination is not practiced.

Piñol earlier said the DA team that went to Brazil last month gave a favorable feedback and suggested the lifting of the ban from several Brazilian meat establishments.

The DA banned meat imports last July to ensure the safety of local consumers after salmonella was detected in some of the shipments from Brazil.