The Philippines is again exporting dried pili nuts to the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) following the issuance of the European Commission Implementing Regulation (EUIR) 2023/267, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported yesterday.
The DA, in a news release issued by Malacanang, said the EU document signed last February 8 authorizes the inclusion of dried pili nuts in the list of novel foods – or those that have not been significantly used for human consumption in the EU before May 1997- which may now be sold in the EU market after passing the European’s food safety and labelling requirements.
The export of the pili nut to European countries has been stopped since 2015 following new EU rules for novel foods.
The DA, which is concurrently headed by President Marcos Jr., welcomed the EU issuance as it will benefit local farmers, pili processors, and exporters.
Philippine Statistics Authority data, as of 2021, showed 90 percent or 1,796 hectares of pili production area in the country is located in the Bicol Region. The region produced 84 percent or 4,932 metric tons of the total volume of production in the country.
Among the current export markets for Philippines’ pili include the United States of America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirate, and Canada.
The DA has been actively involved in the pili industry development by providing inputs; establishing facilities for production, post-harvest, processing, and marketing; and conduct research for development and capacity building activities including the adoption of good agricultural practices and food safety standards to help the local farmers and pili industry players, among others. – Jocelyn Montemayor
