Meat regulation policy sought

There are varying and conflicting regulations of different government agencies on the sale and distribution of processed meat products sold to the public

The beleaguered processed meat industry has sought the government’s help to come up with a clear policy on the present regulations regarding the sale and distribution of processed meat in the market, particularly among finished frozen products in the light of the African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in several parts of the country.

This was the appeal made by Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) spokesman Rex Agarado as the group is already feeling the sting of the rapid drop of sales of processed meat products due to the ASF scare.

Agarado, in a weekly forum, cited the varying and conflicting regulations of different government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Interior and Local Government on the sale and distribution of processed meat products sold to the public.

“I hope President (Rodrigo) Duterte will review the present four agencies that is tasked to regulate meat after the ASF scare to avoid confusion with local authorities in regard to sale of meat products,” Agarado said.

Meanwhile, PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. maintained that their products are ASF-free, reassuring the public that the group only purchases pork cuts that have been certified by the National Meat Inspection Service to be free from any disease and that they strictly adhere to internationally accepted and recognized standards of food safety and manufacturing practices.

“We assure and guarantee our consumers that we do not import pork materials from countries that have been infected by the ASF virus,” Tiukinhoy said.