‘UK poultry ban to raise processed meat product prices’

MANILA, Philippines — The ban on poultry imports from the United Kingdom could lead to increases in the prices of processed meat products due to the tighter supply of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken as well as the rising costs from other countries, meat processors said yesterday.

“The temporary ban on the UK will worsen the dire situation we are in now. The UK, together with the Netherlands and Germany which have also been banned for several months now, comprise about 60 percent of our MDM chicken supply. This is a major source of animal protein for processors,” Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) vice president Jerome Ong told The STAR.

“Supply has been severely affected and prices from other countries have increased by more than 100 percent. Our inventories are running out and if supply does not stabilize, the prices of processed meat such as canned meat loaf, sausage, hotdogs, siomai, etc. will increase by more than 20 to 25 percent,” Ong added.

In a memorandum order signed by Agriculture Secretary William Dar on March 5, the Department of Agriculture (DA) issued a temporary ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from the UK due to the ongoing outbreaks of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

This is an expansion of the previously imposed ban on England.

Latest data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) show that a total of 1.66 million kilos of chicken products were imported from the UK as of Jan. 31.

This accounts for nearly 10 percent of the 16.9 million kilos of chicken imported during the period.

BAI data also show that total deboned chicken meat imports from the UK amounted to 1.23 million kilos in January.

“It’s unfortunate that the supply situation is getting tighter. This will translate into higher raw material cost for processors and subsequently for consumers. We need to find a solution quickly,” Meat Importers and Traders Association president Jess Cham told The STAR.

Ong said the rising prices of pork, chicken, fish and other food staples are already beyond the reach of many consumers who are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic based on the inflation rates going up to 4.7 percent in February.

“Our products are the most affordable alternative to fresh meat and have become food staple for millions of Filipinos. That’s why our sector is doing its best to keep prices low as our service to the nation and the ban on poultry will soon hinder us from doing so,” Ong said.

He said the group has been appealing to the DA for a zonal ban instead of the countrywide ban in place, noting it’s not the whole countries that have outbreaks of the avian influenza.

Lower galunggong prices

Prices of galunggong are seen to further decline as lower prices have already been recorded, as the country enters the open fishing season.

This was confirmed by agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, who noted that lower galunggong prices have already been observed earlier this week.

Based on market monitors of the DA, the prevailing price of local galunggong in Metro Manila markets registered at P240 per kilo yesterday, lower than the P270 per kilo registered on Thursday in the previous week.

In addition, the prevailing price of imported galunggong registered at P200 per kilo, unchanged from last week.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Cheryl Marie Cabalero said prices of galunggong are expected to go down because its already the open fishing season.

The three-month closed fishing season for round scad in Northeastern Palawan was earlier lifted on February 1.

Recently, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also lifted the 10th closed fishing season for sardines in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority said the continuous increase in the fish supply and unloading in Navotas Fish Port Complex has been attributed to the lifting of the the closed fish seasons in various major fishing grounds.

The PFDA said it has been working round the clock to accommodate the influx of fish supply for distribution to different markets in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

From March 1-9, the PFDA-NFPC recorded 5262.75 metric tons (MT) of fish unloading composed of marine, aquaculture and frozen fish products.

Of this total, galunggong recorded the highest unloading with a total 1210.6 MT.