DA launches food, feed e-portal

THE Department of Agriculture ( DA), together with the European Union ( EU), launched on Tuesday the food safety e- portal, which aims to provide agribusiness better access to food and feed safety regulations.

In his speech at the launching of the DA Sanitary and Phytosanitary Electronic Portal, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that formulation and implementation of internationally- recognized and accepted sanitary and phytosanitary ( SPS) standards and measures will help enhance the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors’ competitiveness.

As a matter of policy, Alcala said that the DA has been keen on enhancing the country’s SPS management and administration to help the sector respond to challenges in the fast- growing global market.

“We need to stimulate and support the sector’s trade capabilities to help them better integrate in the global economy and face both the challenges and opportunities it offers,” Alcala said.

The DA chief added that with the SPS e- portal now in place, the agribusiness sector can now view online all safety standards – including those for harvesting, processing, packaging, and selling or importing food and feed.

“This will also enhance transparency, saving time and money and facilitating compliance,” Alcala said.

Segfredo Serrano, DA undersecretary for planning and research, said that that e- portal will be a useful tool for the private sector and other stakeholders as the codified issuances may be accessed electronically, thereby facilitating trade through improved information availability and transparency of food safety related regulations and measures – which the industry needs to know and comply with.

He added that the new information platform can also help to ensure consistency and accountability among the regulating bureaus of the department.

Ambassador Guy Ledoux, head of the European Union delegation, expressed strong support to the DA’S effort to further enhance its food safety regime.

“This is good for Philippine consumers and consumers of Philippine food worldwide. Aligning to international standards will improve the access

of Philippines food exports to markets abroad. Getting the regulatory framework right and making it easily accessible is key,” he said. The creation of an electronic portal is supported by the European Union under the second phase of the Trade Related...