DA issuing less meat import permits

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture has temporarily slowed down on the approval of meat import permits following complaints from local pork and poultry producers about the influx of imported meats.

The DA, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, ordered the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) to scrutinize all meat import data, including those coming from the concerned stakeholders and verify claims of over-importation.

Alcala said a couple of permits have been approved and released already.

The Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) had complained about the slowdown, arguing that the BAI is supposed to process and issue meat import permits within five working days.

Based on import data from the BAI, total pork imports from January to November totaled 135,173,619 kilograms.

Of the total pork imports from January to November this year, pork cuts totalled 33,406,913 kgs; pork bellies amounted to 11,640,700 kgs; deboned amounted to 247,922 kgs; fats amounted to 20,916,607 kgs; offals 51,178,053 kgs and rind/skin amounted to 17,783,424 kgs.

Chicken imports from January to November this year, according to BAI records, reached 103,155,585 kgs, broken down to chicken cuts, 2,548,127 kgs; chicken leg quarters, 27,563,844 kgs; whole chicken 27,240 kgs; deboned 72,769,102 kgs; fats 53,340 kgs; offals 67,031 kgs; rind/skin 126,900 kgs.