DA urged not to relax meat import rules

The National Federation of Hog Farmers Farmers Inc. (NFHFI) in a resolution sent to President Arroyo, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. and Bureau of Animal Industry Director Jose Q. Molina has expressed opposition to any amendment or revocation of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 39 (AO-39).

AO-39 issued during the watch of then Agriculture Secretary Edgardo J. Angara prescribes the safety standards and procedures required to ensure that the meat which the country imports are fit for human consumption and are free from animal pests and diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease for livestock and newcastle and avian flue for poultry. It stipulated, among others, that meat products cannot be imported without first securing the VQC.

It provides that qualified importers must first secure the veterinary quarantine clearance (VQC) and sanitary and phytosanitary certificates (SPS) from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as an import permit prior to the shipment of meat and meat products from the country of origin.

Of late, meat importations are being allowed covered by VQCs that are either recycled or issued only upon arrival of the shipments into the country.

Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) is urging the Department of Agriculture to immediately revoke and amend the provisions of AO-39. In which case VQC can be routinely issued prior to payment of duties. Otherwise the association plans to file a case in court for the amendment or revocation.

NFHFI president Albert R.T. Lim Jr. said "the amendment or revocation will open the floodgates of smuggling. Even with the AO-39 in place meat products come in like the ones in Batangas Port where VQC are issue only after shipment arrived. We vehemently oppose the revocation or amendment of AO-39; it should instead be strengthened with stricter penalties such as higher fines and longer periods of imprisonment of violators."