BOC, Naia to strictly observe safety rules for meat imports

THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) announced over the weekend that they will strictly implement the government’s policy of requiring a phytosanitary permit for meat imports.

This came about after the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) encouraged consumers to buy meat from local stores where they can actually see what they are buying.

“Without physical access to the items being sold, consumers buying meat online have no way of knowing its quality and rely mainly on textual description and images provided by the seller,” the NMIS said.

The advisory was issued after online buying became very popular among Filipinos in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced citizens to lock themselves in their homes to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Airport authorities and the various agencies of the BAI were alerted to strictly monitor all kinds of meat and meat products arriving at the airport brought in by arriving passengers.

“We are requiring importers to submit phytosanitary and health permit before we release the shipment,” the BAI said in a statement.

Airport Customs Collector Mimel Talusan said the DA together with the BOC were ordered to strictly implement the Food Safety Act of 2013.

Special focus will be given on Section 12, which states that “imported food should undergo inspection and clearance procedures at the first port of entry to determine compliance with national regulations.”

The DA in an earlier statement alerted the public against buying meat online following the discovery of the new strain of African swine fever.

“We will confiscate any meat or meat products brought in by passengers sans permit from the concerned government agencies,” Talusan said.