RP to scout S. American countries for meat products

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will go on a trade mission in several South American countries to scout for exporters of meat and meat products in the continent.

DA officials said that the countries to be visited will include Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. The delegation will include prominent members of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors (PAMI).

DA said earlier it is likely that the country will allow the entry of meat and meat products from Argentina and Uruguay after they comply with quarantine and safety inspections specified by Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Commission (NMIC).

Currently, a team from BAI and NMIC are looking into the safety and hygienic conditions of meat processing plants from Argentina and Uruguay which have been asking to be accredited by the Philippine government.

These two countries are required to meet the standards set by the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points, an international body which puts in place food safety standards.

It is also likely that both countries will already be subjected to a new ruling which requires an independent international accrediting agency to certify that exporters meat processing facilities meet worldwide standards.

As this developed, the DA is allowing the entry of meat and meat products from South Korea.

Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor recently issued an administrative order accrediting three South Korean companies to export pork and its products from Cheju Island to the Philippines. The DA said the three companies were able to comply with the guidelines set by the government for exporters to be allowed access to the Philippine market.